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Q. Where’s the world headed?
A. Technically, the world is headed towards the constellation Hercules at about 20,000 mph, dragged along as the sun goes on its merry way, but I suppose that isn’t quite what the questioner had in mind. Putting on that never-fits-well prognosticator’s hat, I’m fairly optimistic. The planet got out of the 20th century by jettisoning the totalitarian ideologies of fascism and communism (though with the stray Stalinist theme parks like N. Korea still intact), and the potential of uniting people through instant communication and more information flow makes me think we’ll figure out how to adapt to some of the messes we’ve caused (such as climate change). Sure, there are extremists who are willing to blow themselves and others up to score their brownie points, but in the end can even their efforts derail processes underway to bring people together in common cause for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?True, there are all too many places in the world where people fear for their lives or consciences, but it is becoming increasingly difficult for such places to do their thing secretly or to avoid being marginalized in the larger world community. I think of how shocking the interracial kiss was on Star Trek in the 1960s, and today we have an African American president. So don’t unpack the hemlock cocktails yet, and don’t count our species out of the game. We’re a resilient bunch, after all.
