I’ll be very clear on this point: When well meaning people from almost any Christian faith tradition becomes too apocalyptic in interpreting religious writings in the New and Old Testaments, and my children and now grandchildren were and are exposed to that stuff, I’ve always gone in high gear calling them out.
It is my very strong belief that every child has an inherent right to grow up in a secure environment with a chance to hear that their futures will be a safe one, chalk full of opportunities to have a good life.
When, one night many decades ago, I was at the dinner table with my children and we were talking about the future, one of them said, why make plans about the future, the world is going to be destroyed by nuclear war. I told them that they would not be destroyed, that they would live far into the future. “Where did you hear about the destruction of the world”, I asked. “In Sunday School,” came the answer. Since that time, I have openly challenged the health, or lack thereof, of any religion’s curriculum that teaches such negative ideas about the future.
Having been a professional religion instructor in my younger days, on occasion, I was challenged on my above opinions. Usually, the Book of Revelation was used to point out the great apocalyptic war that will destroy the world. My response to the challenge was always the same: We’ve already had that battle.
It was WW2. 50 million were killed – the greatest carnage in human history. Two atom bombs were dropped, one of which killed 146,000 thousand of the 320,000 living in Hiroshima and ultimately destroyed 90% of the buildings of the entire city.
How do I know this? My uncle, my father and my father in law were in that hell hole of a war. Each told me that on the other side of that war life became better for everyone in the world.
I believed them. That was the world I grew up in. I’m 75. I was born six months before that war ended. As far as I can see, that new world continues to exist. It needs a touch up, but what doesn’t?
Tests of our character come and go. We’re living through one right now. I know something of pandemics. I lived through the polio epidemic and was sick from it and ended up with a small limp. I survived. We usually do.
So here we are. Shortly, we’re going to all get a little richer. I believe strongly in Andrew Yang’s position of giving every citizen a monthly $1k to spend as they please. It puts a foundation under each American, as new technologies nibble away at our last bunch of traditional jobs. It’s also the best way I think to help the homeless get back up on their feet.
I believe the period we’re entering is the age of direct investment in human beings. We’ve invested in the Industrial Age with all its steel and steam and power. We’ve invested in the electricity age with its radio, tv, computer, iPad, iPhone and software and apps. It’s now time to invest directly in human beings. Give them money and make all the options affordable to them. By the way, while that’s happening, let’s build our country to withstand hurricanes, oceans rising, fires, toxins poisoning the air. A redo of every home and street in the country. This will keep us all busy as hell for the next half century.
That’s what I want for my kids and grandkids.
Investing directly in each individual. Put money in their pockets. 95% of them will work to put more money in their pockets. My uncle, father and father in law would be proud of me thinking that way and raising their posterity that way.
Over and out.
Time Table For The End Of This Stuff: A Calm Will Begin To Descend