A recurring theme in my thinking and writing is how we keep believing that humans will somehow get smarter or at least wake up and realize that humankind is what it is and his nature will never change. This treatise delves into this.

January first 2000 came and went without event. In fact, it probably was the most uneventful and crime-free one in memory. Hardly a trace of the predicted Y2K problems actually came to pass. A few spotty and minor problems with office equipment and hospital machines here and there but that was about it. Some accused the United States and Japan of negligence because most of these minor incidents happened there. What they didn't say was that because Japan and we are so heavily dependent upon computers that it was only natural for problems to occur in those places. This was just sour grapes spewed forth by those who made all those dire predictions which never happened. The technological "Chicken Littles" are actually upset that nothing bad transpired so they stubbornly point to the few exceptions as puny evidence that they were right.

Not long ago this newspaper published my original article on Y2K wherein I asked how big business could be so stupid as to stand idly by and let this catastrophe occur without attempting to intercept it. At that time I noted that there are a lot of people around whom need to be constantly searching for unpleasantness otherwise they are unhappy. To them I say, GET A LIFE and get a checkup from the neck up. To me, it is so interesting while at the same time so bizarre, that there are so many people who love to panic when there is nothing of substance to fret over. Yet, these same people are oblivious to areas where there is sound reason to be concerned. I speak of the erosion of morality, the dumbing down of the public, and so many other concrete threats facing us.

When I look back over the past few years and reassess what were the "big" stories I see the John Bobbitt case, Tonya Harding's "attempted assassination" of her primary Olympic opponent, the O.J. Simpson case, and the President's peccadilloes in the oval office. Although aspects of each should have been of paramount importance but were overshadowed by their sensational, puerile and insignificant components, all of these were tabloid fare. The most egregious of these was the fact that Clinton perjured himself, encouraged others to do the same, tampered with evidence, not to mention that he and our Vice President openly solicited contributions from Communist China (a potential adversary I must point out) in exchange for technology which could in all likelihood be used against us in the future. This calculated blunder could very well end up with the same result as when we sold scrap iron to Japan and they gave it back at Pearl Harbor. Yet all we heard about was the sordid details of his sexual tastes and of how replicas of Monica's stained dress and handbag worn during her "intimate" moment with the President, had overnight become the most popular items in fashion stores. I've grown hoarse trying to draw attention to all this but all I hear in answer are chirping crickets against the deafening background of silence in the wilderness of indifference.

Why are so many people worried about drivel when there is so much of importance to address? I submit that the public has been so dumbed down and conditioned toward numbness that this is what we should expect to see. I also must add this next observation, which I wish I could take credit for but it originates with a friend, that sums it all up very nicely. That is, when you throw a lobster into a pot of boiling water, it scratches and puts up a big commotion to get out. But if you throw a lobster into a pot of cold water and turn up the burner to a slow boil, then the lobster falls asleep and slowly boils to death without a fuss. In view of this analogy, why is it that the public, which presumably is a more intelligent animal than a crustacean, so closely resembles one in its habits? The ubiquitous complacency and self-indulgence has rendered us no better than this metaphorical shellfish. The only distinction is that we placed ourselves in the pot of water by allowing others to do the thinking for us.

So folks, keep worrying about whether or not your computer games will be working tomorrow, or that the rising price of gas will curtail your enjoyment of the family S.U.V. or if your B.M.W. will get a scratch on it when you park it at the nearest upscale mall. While you're at it, be sure to get back home early so as not to miss the next episode of the Simpsons as I hear it will surpass all previous episodes for its culturally redeeming virtues. It's ok just as long as you're having fun while really important things are happening all over the world. By the way, while you're busy doing all this, what are the kids up to? Maybe they're amusing themselves the way those adolescents did out in Columbine while their parents were busy indulging themselves. Be sure to have fun now!
Copyright (C) 2000 AJS