In a Nutshell – commentary by Trevor Barnes
Every age has its specific challenges, which at the time were regarded as serious but time heals and softens the memory, such that these challenges become nostalgic memories.
I wish to point out that my glib use of the word challenges is in the real context, not as hijacked and transformed to become an excuse for non-accomplishment and failure.
I would start with the 1960’s where the flush of freedom was being flaunted by the youth of the day. These young people had not been subjected to the deprivations as result of WW2, and probably did not fully comprehend their parents’ reticence to ‘break free and express themselves’. Hence the flower-power generation blossomed bringing daisy chains, long hair, dyed T-shirts and the idea that unconstrained love for your fellow would solve it all, while sharing a joint.
Following this psychedelic excursion, the 1970’s brought the realities of working to live and living to work, and this gradually reduced this happy utopia to the realities of embracing the next challenge, in the form of the computers. Sink or swim was now the watchword.
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Those not willing to dive in and grasp the new tech would be casualties of the new world order. Along came the computer, computer gaming consoles and the start of the cell phone revolution, whereby, not long after buying the latest cell phone model it would be outdated within a period of six months.
This trend melded the next twenty years into a frighteningly furious rate of development and innovation such that it really was the dawning and awakening of a brand new world order, as everything became computer linked.
Of course with this new movement, artificial intelligence technology at so many industries put more humans out of work. Do you remember the worry that permeated your head space when the January 1st 2000 was approaching? Would aeroplanes fall from the sky? Would my bank account gobble my savings up?
We made it though. Now we have Covid-19. Need I elaborate? I doubt it. This is our new challenge.
When will face masks and sanitisation become a not-so-fond memory not recalled with nostalgia?
Dear Lord help us. What have we done to the perfect world you gave us to nurture and protect for our children’s children?
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