..at the present
April 20, 2011 (Friday)
Imagine that you live in the year 1776, somewhere in, let’s say, Massachusetts, or, if you like, Virginia. In either place, the talk on the street is about “Independence.”
In the 1776 New World colonies, the British king’s name is anathema almost anywhere you go, because he has been entirely unreasonable in the governance of these colonies. Everyone avoids use of the word, “George,” because it’s the king’s name (followed by spitting strongly).
Now, imagine, if you will, that a visitor from the future arrives. Let’s say he’s from 2011, 225 years from now. You ask him all about the future. “Will our Revolution succeed?” “Will our new nation survive?” The visitor replies in the affirmative on both counts.
Then you ask the visitor from the future about world events. He tells you all about the weather and the wars. “But what will be the main story on this day, April 29, in the year 2011?”
“Oh,” the man from the future replies, “by that time a thing called ‘television’ will be available, and millions of Americans will be watching the Royal Wedding!”
You open your mouth wide, and gasp, “Wha…???”
Somebody once said, “The more things change the more they stay the same.” *
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* Attributed to Alphonse Karr
(Also a song by Bon-Jovi).