After looking through the names of the paper's contributors and writers, I smiled. If I had had prescience then, I would have known these same students would be leading successful, productive, and happy lives. They have, from what I know, learned lessons that became vital to their futures.
Then, after the thoughts of my former students, my attention led me to the content of the actual editorial I wrote for this issue of the Trojan Tribune. I'm not sure how prescient (having a foreknowledge of events) it was as we were just 10 days before the new millennium, but it does serve as a moment in the past in which the concept of time was at the forefront of the news, conversation, and yes, even the speculations and predictions (often dire) of the future.
With a tiny bit of prescience, here was my take, sixteen years ago, on my what lessons we could learn going forward...I think it remains relevant today as, perhaps, we still need to be reminded...we still need to remember...
My piece from December 21, 1999.
Clawson Century Countdown!
Much Y2K hype has surrounded us on a daily basis. What will the new millennium bring? People are scared, hopeful, anxious, and even apathetic with the future possibilities. Many are preparing by buying supplies in bulk, securing cash, and changing New Year's Eve plans. But shouldn't we also be preparing for this event by storing up lessons learned from the past?
Perhaps the headlines of 1999 have saturated our sensibilities to the importance of understanding our past. "Depression as Deadly as Smoking," Youth to be Tried as an Adult," "Cops disregard Miranda Rights," and "Helpless Plane Crashes, Kills Star Golfer."
What should we as a community be reflecting upon as we face the year 2000? Does it matter that we remember the past and its contributions to civilization? Have we learned lessons that will be vital to our future existence? Ought we to care that the Romans invaded Britain in 43 A.D.? Or that in 732 A.D. Charles Martel defeated the Muslims in France? Is it important to appreciate the significance of the Koran being written in the 7th century, or 9th century's King Alfred the Great of England promoting a revival in learning, founding schools and employing scholars?
Maybe our society in 1999 is only concerned about the past experiences that have personally affected their lives and memories; such as the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, or the Congressional passing of the National Origins Act of 1924 which disallowed the acceptance of the "huddled masses" fleeing persecution or poverty. Would a generation removed be reflecting upon their intense experiences with Nazism or the Lindbergh baby kidnapping? Who will contemplate upon the overall impressions made by H.G. Well's "War of the Worlds" or Glen Miller's Orchestra?
How many baby boomers will ponder the "common sense" of Dr. Spock or the effects of Salk's invention of the polio vaccine? The children born in the 70s and 80s may take time to think of where they were when witnessing the Challenger space shuttle exploding or watching the Iran-Iraq war on tv...or even fondly remembering their first computer found under a Christmas tree.
Will the next century be one of experiments, the formulation of countless laws and theories? Will we become more detached from our follow human beings because of the impersonal nature of technology? Will committed individuals continue to create wonders of art that have and will stir the human heart and inspire the greatness in others?
The crystal ball is cloudy with uncertainty. However, our hope should remain steadfast. We should "store up" the dignity of a universal collective memory of the past which will have a vital and profound impact on our present...and future.