Brave new world

Before it all happened

February 14, 2015

The age of enlightenment is upon us. We are the future. Everything – both good and bad – that can impact us is upon us. That was the essence of the message sent from the United States Patent Office, circa 1880. Again, in post- world war two, Aldus Huxley wrote and published Brave New World, his perception of what the world would embrace and become in the future. The patent office statement came to the world when we had only a glimpse of telephones, railroads cars, fossil fuel consumption, and anything else that would lead us to believe we were moving toward what would become an electronic, mechanized, sterile earth which edged ever more rapidly to loss of personal value, limited to zero privacy, and pretend economies propped up by central banks with zero interest rates to give the illusion of a flowing economy.

Years ago I was asked to read Dr. Johnson’s “Who Moved the Cheese.” Several of my colleagues raved about it and told how it had been used as a motivational presentation in a high muckity muck seminar. I read it and evidently got a totally different meaning from it than the rest of the world. Here was a noted writer of Children’s books of faith, honesty, love, etc. sharing how we needed to abide the system which was at the center of our global demise. How could this be? I went into my cocoon and begin to attempt my first (well, not really my first) serious writing. It was a parody of “Who Moved the Cheese and I was very excited about my creative venture. I showed it to a couple of esteemed colleagues from the English Department and their only comment came from my next door office neighbor who said it was obvious I had put a lot of heart and soul into it; that I had capitalized the letter “a” every time it was used as a word, like proper English capitalizes the letter “I”. And, oh, there sure were lots of commas where there shouldn’t be.

Well, that wasn’t the answer any serious writer of great prose wants to hear, so I went and sulked for a few years; practiced writing these weekly goodies which seem to help me understand the world better and some people get benefit from them. At least they say nice things about them and encourage me to keep sharing for which I am thankful.

The intervening years have brought more “Brave New World” symptoms; more “Big Brother” from another text, “1984”, written by George Orwell. This is another terrifying look at a world without the comforts of humanity, freedom, privacy. In “1984” Orwell depicts a world in which man is no longer the master of personal destiny. “Big brother” (like the NSA, FCC, and lots more alphabet soup) combined finds an individual that attempts to escape the system and fails in the end.

The monster waiting in the darkened corridors will have to wait for now. I am going to actually complete the parody I began so long ago; however, I will continue to share my weekly thoughts with anyone who cares to read them. My creation will begin in my blog which appears at the bottom of each email I send out. You are welcome to peruse my blog anytime your curiosity becomes so rampant you can no longer resist.

After spending the last several years reviewing, contemplating (praying), and humbly asking for personal inspiration and understanding, some of the incredible things about the plan of salvation (happiness), eternal families, ministering angels, and most importantly, my responsibilities to God and family, I am finally able to see tiny glimpses of what some of the thoughts in the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. (The last three are texts believed by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to be the word of God).

Each of you bless my lives as your share your personal thoughts with me, providing hope, understanding and love. God bless each of us as we traverse this sticky slope, ever holding the Iron Rod.

Duane Jacobs, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, brother, and friend