I used to rely on researchers like the Tofflers (Future Shock) to “see” into the future.
For instance, the pro-sumer trend, the mismatching speeds among various sectors ( IT, Financial, Educational, Governmental…in that order).
Lately, all I came across in Futurism was 2012 prophecy .
Like it or not, this year will have come down as a special year, if not, end of an era.
Let me explain.
We had a bloody closure on a terrible event which Tom Wolfe ably put “New York got knocked out of its two front teeth”. Then, Sandy rinsed through the Big Apple as if to complete this dental procedure.
Up North, we buried school kids died not of their own choices.
In today’s NYT Op-Ed, Father Kevin was quoted as saying “we are God’s presence to extend Mercy incarnate to one another”.
2012 marked a year full of flood and blood.
Dark Night Rises, while we hardly hear George Harrison‘s Heres Comes the Sun.
I wish I can still rely on the likes of Tofflers to point out where our technological society is heading.
But then, while focusing on I-phone, I-pad and I-pod, we forgot the I-ndividual.
Consumer or Prosumer, the individual loves, laughs and learns.
When the power is out, and the water level keeps rising, people suffer.
Don’t tell me it’s war time (which somehow makes suffering a matter of fate).
It’s peace time. And we can’t handle the truth, still.
The truth is: we are victims of our own progress. We live too long, consume too much and complain far too little (venting does not affect change)
I love technology when it humanizes our society. It carries us to far-away places. But technology makes it too easy for kids to take down kids (compare to No Easy Day – set in Pakistan – Newtown shooting was far too Easy a day).
I know we will soon rid of the keyboard, mouse and monitor. The technology has already been beta-tested. Those are good stuff.
Softwares continue to rule the day.
James Bond already paired up with a much younger whiz, while his boss is nearing retirement. Signs of the time.
What it is ain’t exactly clear.
But if we don’t hear Here Comes the Sun, at least I suggest we click on “It don’t come easy“. Always with a price. Insurance companies are quick to spread the liabilities and costs, but slow to recompense.
Same with everything else. Statement comes due. Rent is up. It don’t come easy. But somehow, being “mercy incarnate” to one another doesn’t come at all. We barely grasp the concept much less putting it into practice. Yet other “right” such as the right to bear arms, has been built-in as second nature. I propose another amendment: next to the right to bear arms is the responsibility to pay for the victims killed by arms.
No Farewell to Arms. Own them, but just realize, like other technologies, everything comes with a price. Why should someone’s kids be your target practice. And why should civilized society be forced to make an U-turn back to Pre-Khan Mongolian era to pamper the rights of a few (9 guns out of every ten Americans). 2012. Something about that number.
Hate it or like it, we still have a few more days before Count Down. Have a “closure” weekend. Remember to plug-in your electronic devices, and while at it, plug yourself in as well. We need to be recharged as much as those things we have created.