58 of 113

Write now Article Tools

Disaster or Opportunity:
It's All in What You Make of It

Do you remember the population explosion we had about 15 years ago? It challenged the post-World War II baby boom and all because of a single piece of alarming news. Some newly discovered comet was in the heavens and headed for Earth. The gravitational pull of the comet was going to create a disturbance so that planets would be drawn out of alignment. Because of the misalignment, fractiousness would come to be the state of affairs. Not only that, the gravitational pull, the misalignments, and the incident of the comet passing by Earth would all lead to the end of the world.

Well, there's only one way to deal with the end of the world. The instinct to preserve the species (even though it's the entire Earth and all of its civilizations that's affected) becomes a prime directive. Young people did not stop to reason through this part of the news. All they knew was they had waited all this time and their opportunity to know the experience of carnal love was going to expire. There would be no future, let alone a future opportunity to know the full extent of physical love.

There was sufficient announcement of this catastrophe that some types of preparations could be made. And just enough that a legal abortion would be out of the question by the time the date arrived.

And the date did arrive. Yes, I'm writing this article - after the date of the end of the world - some 15 or more years after the fact.

The comet missed the Earth. Nothing was thrown out of alignment - except a few backs. The planets continued in their orbits without consequence. In fact, it was a bit like a fly going through the front door of the house and then out the back.

There was also the Millennium Effect that caused a stir. For at least a year, if not two, people considered the effects that changing from one millennium to another, going from a date that read 19xx to a date that read 2000 was projected to cause. Word was that major disruptions in all manner of services and functions would be the rule. Planes were going to drop from the air because the computers on which they relied for navigation would not longer be properly aligned. Water would run in reverse. It's difficult to remember some of the more outrageous projections.

But this foretold disaster had some positive effects on us globally. More attention was given to details. New emphasis was placed on matters of quality assurance. Systems were monitored more closely. Contingency plans were

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about The importance of seeking a balance in positive news to combat the negative?
We want to hear your view. Write now!