Questions surround Dec. 21

Talk about it

Anyone who has access to the Internet or cable TV knows by now that the world will end Dec. 21.

This story really took off about the time the last doomsayer end-of-world prediction date came and went. Now we can blame it on the Mayans who got tired of updating their calendar centuries ago and modern-day scholarly types took that to mean those clever Mayans must have known the world would end this year.

Many of these rumors involve a comet or a hidden planet sneaking up and colliding with us and putting an end to our holiday shopping.

Now, initially I had a hard time putting much stock in the wisdom of a people that were conquered and enslaved by a handful of Spanish in a matter of days, however when our own government scientists issued a statement on their website www.usa.gov/index.shtml debunking rumors of our impending doom, I’m not so sure.

Being a child of the ’60s, I don’t have an undying trust in our government and our elected leaders. Blame it on Watergate, Monica Lewinski and the current president telling me the private sector is doing just fine.

They have also said there is no such thing as UFOs or bigfoot despite the countless grainy video clips showing they exist. You would think with all the technology someone could get a clear picture or video.

Anyway, after the government’s announcement that Dec. 21 will be just like any other frantic preholiday December day, I’m not so sure.

Granted there are certainly some disadvantages to the world ending, not the least of which is never collecting a penny of all the money I paid into Social Security.

Knowing there are two ways to look at everything, at least I wouldn’t have to shovel snow this winter and there would be no need to buy Christmas presents. How foolish would I feel if a comet plows into the Earth while I’m sitting on my couch gazing at a tree surrounded by presents?

So based on my lack of faith in egghead scientists on the taxpayers dole and that my government has not always been honest, I have decided to forgo purchasing Christmas presents.

I don’t want to be responsible for the disappointment of friends and families should a comet interrupt the holiday season.

I hope if the government is right this time hopefully friends and families will remember my logic and appreciate my concerns for their well-being.

Brock is The Dickinson Press publisher.

Tags: opinion, column, columns, mayans