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When it comes to being respectably respectful of the concept of Time, we multitudes are subdivided into a dizzying array of thought-camps (or posses), herewith (below) being a few:
1. The past is passé posse:
The past is passé and deserves a quick brush-off so that we can relish the present and brag about how much better the future will be because We are here and ready to take over.
2. The past was better posse:
Everything good has already happened and the future is going to hell because it’s being commandeered by those younger whippersnappers.
3. The future will be better posse:
We must look to the future, since the past and Right Now are so screwed up. We will be saved by a Sacred Happening or by Scientific Progress or by right-minded leaders (benevolent dictators).
4. Everything was always bad and the future will be, too, posse:
People are no damned good and they’re getting worse.
5. This is the best of all possible worlds posse:
“This is the best of all possible worlds.”—Candide
(There’s Good everywhere and all you have to do is focus on that precept and hold on for dear life.)
6. The Yin and Yang will prevail posse.
There will be good times, there will be bad times.
These are good and bad times.
There were good times and there were bad times.
7. The enemy is Us posse:
“We have met the enemy and he is us.”—Walt Kelly (Wherever we go, there we are.)
8. We can brainwash the world posse:
“The dice of the gods are always loaded.”—Emerson (from a Greek proverb)
(Just put us in charge and we will “educate” everyone to think Our way, thus guaranteeing prosperity and peace for all.)
9. Beware the Posses posse:
“If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him.” —Brian Schell (Be wary of anyone with The Answer.)
“Anyone who says differently is selling something.” — Westley (If it seems too good to be true, it is.)
I’ve doubtless missed a few categories, but the exercise is remarkably repetitive through the
generations—each “aha!” moment is, upon examination, fraught with traps and dead-ends and bad punchlines. What is the real answer? How will we learn to respect the past, the present and the future simultaneously? Will we ever?
Perhaps if the Elders and the Present Youth and the Descendants would join hands and work together, we would once and for all see past/present/future as one and the same. We’re on the same ship at the same time in the same galaxy, and the sooner we stop one-upmanshipping one another and just consider life to be one big fat family reunion, the sooner we’ll be able to take a deep breath and get on with the business of Being a better world
(c) 2012 A.D. by Jim Reed