2006-08-06
futuristics
The future will not look at all what we know life to be now although there certainly shall be some familiar aspects of waht we see and live by at present.
We are so unaccustomed to sudden change that the very thought of it raises fears of catastrophic outcomes. To be sure, catastrophic outcomes are not with their possibility; events such as the tsunamis and Hurricane Katrina are vivid examples of the impace and trauma that natural catastrophies wreak upon us.
Man-made catastrophes, such as just about anywhere in the Mideast [Iraq/Iran/Syria/Lebanon/Israel]; various African tribal genocidal wars; the continued practice of human trafficing; the slums of Paris, Los Angeles, an so many other places too numerous to count, are generally considered to obscure for many to notice [save those forced to live in them]. They give pause to few, though their root causes remain steeped in the ripple effects of decisions made out of venality and greed.
It is, doubtless, those in developed nations who shall have the most disconcerting experiences in adjusting to the changes we can expect to see in the next half century [or less]. This is how it should be becuase for too long it has been those from the developed nations who have benefited from the plenty produced at the expense of the rest of the planet's citizenry.
But many of the changes need not be oppressive. True, we shall be forced to learn how to be more interdependent, even independent. We shall need to hold greater value to trades and vocations long regarded as suspect socially, becuase they involve difficult, unappreciated work.
If we plan properly, take time to recognize that even we old dogs can indeed learn new tricks, then many of the changes do not need to be all that painful.
We'll need to develop newfound respect for agriculture, and to be more hands-on with generation of power directly at home [solar, wind, geothermal]. And we can expect to rely even less on employment from large corporate bureaucratic organizations.
The futre can be ours, if we but just gain greater humility and recognize that there is real work to be done. We can't just rely on political action committees or overpaid spokepersons pretending to make humane decisions for us all.
It will be hard, but not impossible.
The future will not look at all what we know life to be now although there certainly shall be some familiar aspects of waht we see and live by at present.
We are so unaccustomed to sudden change that the very thought of it raises fears of catastrophic outcomes. To be sure, catastrophic outcomes are not with their possibility; events such as the tsunamis and Hurricane Katrina are vivid examples of the impace and trauma that natural catastrophies wreak upon us.
Man-made catastrophes, such as just about anywhere in the Mideast [Iraq/Iran/Syria/Lebanon/Israel]; various African tribal genocidal wars; the continued practice of human trafficing; the slums of Paris, Los Angeles, an so many other places too numerous to count, are generally considered to obscure for many to notice [save those forced to live in them]. They give pause to few, though their root causes remain steeped in the ripple effects of decisions made out of venality and greed.
It is, doubtless, those in developed nations who shall have the most disconcerting experiences in adjusting to the changes we can expect to see in the next half century [or less]. This is how it should be becuase for too long it has been those from the developed nations who have benefited from the plenty produced at the expense of the rest of the planet's citizenry.
But many of the changes need not be oppressive. True, we shall be forced to learn how to be more interdependent, even independent. We shall need to hold greater value to trades and vocations long regarded as suspect socially, becuase they involve difficult, unappreciated work.
If we plan properly, take time to recognize that even we old dogs can indeed learn new tricks, then many of the changes do not need to be all that painful.
We'll need to develop newfound respect for agriculture, and to be more hands-on with generation of power directly at home [solar, wind, geothermal]. And we can expect to rely even less on employment from large corporate bureaucratic organizations.
The futre can be ours, if we but just gain greater humility and recognize that there is real work to be done. We can't just rely on political action committees or overpaid spokepersons pretending to make humane decisions for us all.
It will be hard, but not impossible.
Labels: calligraphy, futuristics. essays, values, will brady
¶ 17:26
