A pastime of some people is trying to predict the future. Thank goodness we have no way of really knowing what is going to happen. If we did, we would just be puppets on strings.
As a teacher of ‘History,’ I repeatedly told my students that it behooves us to know from where, whom and what we come. My purpose was not to facilitate any future prediction making. No. I insisted that by studying the past, we might be better prepared to understand our future decision making, avoid erroneous actions, and turn to choices that would benefit all.
History is not predestined to ‘repeat itself.’
But “crystal ball” gazing can be meritorious if it is based upon present realities that indicate where we might be headed. Then, we may direct our efforts to those exciting positive possibilities awaiting us.
Recently Ken Guedo, working in our Prince Albert Historical Museum Archives, came across a number of old copies of the other newspaper in Prince Albert, and mentioned to me that several stories found therein might be worth my attention,
Sure enough there were, and one dealt with future predictions. I found it in the edition of April 11, 1950. The story was entitled, “What’s Coming In 50 years.” Quoting from the article, let’s see how accurate its ‘star gazing’ was:
“Life in 2000 A.D. may reasonably be something like this:
Men have landed on the Moon. There will be attempts to reach Venus and Mars. Humans will be talking of migrating to other planets.
Circling around the earth is a man-made satellite transmitting back vital information. Astronomers will want a bigger one as an observatory, outside the earth’s distorting blanket of air. ( The International Space Station - size of two football fields - saw its inception in the late 1990’s)
Rockets soaring up into the atmosphere collect data that help in making completely accurate and long-range weather forecasts.
Science understands atomic structure and energy.
Atomic power plants are supplying electrical power.
Ships are driven by atomic energy.
Electricity is being transmitted over long distances, without much loss of power.
Homes are being heated by the sun’s rays. (Solar Power)
Your televison set picks up programs originating anywhere. Its picture can be in colour, and can have three dimensions.
With your own portable telephone in your pocket, you can call anyone anywhere.
Man is healthier. There are new antibiotics. Polio is licked. So is tuberculosis. Cancer is better understood. We have drugs that help in some cases. Diseases of the heart are causing less trouble. Rheumatic Fever is controlled. The average life span is 75 years. Oldsters are healthier and more active. And there are more of them.
And the hangover from bidding the 20th century farewell may be better treated.”
Such were the predictions of 1950. Not bad for accuracy eh?
We too may be the inheritors of an ever improving world, if we turn our minds and efforts to the positive appeals of those who ‘gaze into the future’ and see benefits for all of us. Together we can promote a better future. Maybe:
Eradication of hunger and poverty.
Tolerance for all.
War no longer being a tool for dealing with misunderstood needs.
Sustainable, environmentally friendly, economic growth.
A truly Universal Health Care.
All of those objectives continue to need the work of science. But they, much more, need the desire and good will of all of us. ---- 2050 ?????