Some of an age will recall the "Great Days of Absence". March 20~22, 1970. This when the whole then seven Millions of the population of NYC left for 72 hours. They camped in shelters malls army depots schools, and public buildings. Even some private homes.
These in the immediate surrounding counties.
After which we all calmly came back, and resumed our normal lives. Never to mention the event again. However of late some who lived those strange days comment. However no one cares.
I myself stayed with friends up in Rome NY for those three days. It was uneventful. I mostly watched TV where it was never mentioned, and just passed the time. Coming home I was somewhat surprised it was not an issue. In time like everyone I forgot all about it
Through I will say a reason was never given.
We were just told we had to go. We got government instructions in the mail. Where to wait for army trucks Buses or trains, and did. That was that. Lately I think it might have had something to do with UFOs. That or the Beatles breaking up.
Just a quick reminder:
ReplyDelete"The end of the human race will be that it will eventually die of civilization." – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Oh don't worry I have that written down.
ReplyDeleteTotally news to me. WTF?
ReplyDeleteFreud too said something similar in his landmark book:
ReplyDelete"We come upon a contention which is so astonishing that we must dwell upon it. This contention holds that what we call our civilization is largely responsible for our misery, and that we should be much happier if we gave it up and returned to primitive conditions. I call this contention astonishing because, in whatever way we may define the concept of civilization, it is a certain fact that all the things with which we seek to protect ourselves against the threats that emanate from the sources of suffering, are part of that very civilization."
-Sigmund Freud, "Civilization and Its Discontents"
Like I sez. We were hunter gatherers for a million years or more.
ReplyDeleteSo it must have worked.
Well okay yeah you could get ate by big animals or other tribes, but ya know. Shit happens.
I mean there's folks in places not infected with civilization still doing it. Still yeah I like comic books anti-biotics toilets, and curry chicken. However the trade offs don't look as good as they used to.