News stations, newspapers, talk shows, daily conversation- in almost every aspect of our lives, doubt seems to be sinking in even more so that global warming, raising oil prices, and many other conflicts will not be solved as cleanly as we all had hoped.
But no, it’s not time to break out singing “It’s the End of the Word as We Know It” because, contrary to spreading belief, it’s not the end of the world, and it won’t be anytime soon.
No, I’m not some crazy optimist who ignores the facts. For any of those who have actually been reading my morbid articles on environmental issues and human rights, you can see that I’m not one to stubbornly oppose facts or be so optimistic that it’s blinding, unlike some people I can think of. (Cough cough politicians)
But you think that everything that we’ve been through, it just can’t end in 2012. Why? The answer should be obvious. How far has the human race really come? (The invention of the ipod aside) How much as really changed? Is there still war? Yes. Is there an increase in peace? Hardly. Does our world even slightly resemble the comforting It’s a Small World ride in Disney land with catchy, brainwashing music and cute dolls playing the ukulele, everyone in the world sharing postcards and holding hands? Not even close.
You’re probably wondering what my harsh negativity has to do with anything at all, but it has a big part. How could the world end when animals are treated worse than they have ever been, some countries still don’t even have the basic, most necessary human rights, a world that is so caught up in materialistic things, come to an end now, without resolutions?
I believe in finished endings. I’m a writer; a sensible, conclusive ending is a condolence to whatever tragedy happened. That’s why I like happy endings. They’re more of a better send off, an ending that makes sense, that prepares for whatever happens in the next book. If the world does really have a creator, (which I do believe it does) than I don’t think they would just send it into oblivion without some sort of parting gift, or without everyone realizing that- hey!- we’ve messed up again and again, so many mistakes being repeated like a broken record player.
This isn’t supposed to defer you in any way to stop trying to change the world. Who knows? Maybe if us humans actually learn that killing and violence is a bad thing, our world will not end for thousands and thousands of years to come!
But until we pull out those white earbuds out of our ears and stop trying to block out that pathetic sound of people in need, children hungry, sick and dying, and those poor tortured animals keening in the night, then we will go nowhere.
Trust me on this. It doesn’t take a mind reader that we’re ready for some change, although it’s no change that a president can bring. It’s one that we instill on ourselves. So start humming a happier tune, and start making a difference. No ukuleles, please, those things give me headaches.
-Rika

This article has been chosen as one of the best articles of 2008.
See more of The Nearby Future’s Best Articles of 2008
Related Articles
13 users responded in this post
Everyone always says that one person can make a difference but if only one person is singing a happy tune and the other singing one of Earth’s destruction then where does that get us in improving the world? It gets us nowhere , if we are going to make a change then everyone must unite, and sadly that will never happen. There is too many people with different opinions. So until all people put aside there differences and unite instead of fight(hey that rhymed!) then nothing in the world is going to change dramatically, and we will most definitely reach the end of the world with( sorry Rika) an unhappy ending. By the way Rika great article! Really gets the reader to think, awesome job.
Thanks
No Problem
Just on another quest to uplift the rest of my fellow staff members. But it was a superb article and if I wouldn’t have commented on it’s utter perfection someone else would have.
I’m not going to lie, I agree with PLOTG. That was a good article. I really liked, “a sensible, conclusive ending is a condolence to whatever tragedy happened.”
Good.
Thanks! I hate stupid endings. Take the end of Romeo and Juliet. Didn’t Juliet think to leave a note to Romeo? “Hey, I’m going to fake my death, so don’t freak out or anything, ok?”
I think that’s just me and my issues with classics.
That was really good. 5 Stars. Two thumbs ^.
Out of four stars, and I have a broken thumb, so… Yeah. What does that say?
You do not have a broken thumb! Don’t exaggerate
have you ever known him not to
It was a figure of speech, stupid idiot Piratical Lord of (Feel Free to Edit that, Rika!!!!! (Rika: I will!) I was saying, “Good job.” You know, a compliment. A form of recognition and congratulations for something somebody else did that was exceptional.
AKA I was being nice. Look it up. It’d make you more pleasant to be around.
Here, allow me to explain this series, if you will, of compliments.
First, I said, “5 stars.” Well, it’s out of four stars as I mentioned later. So that would be the same as saying she earned a 125% on that essay.
Second, I said, “Two thumbs up.” Well, out of one thumb, because the other was ‘broken,’ wouldn’t that be a really good thing? Say, 200%?
Good job, PLTOG! Wanna treat? She’s so smart for her age, don’t you all think?
This is supposed to be a website about PEACE! It’s a little contradictory that our own writers are arguing amongst themselves.
Well, if PLOTG would spend a little less energy being a (Enter swear word of choice), I wouldn’t have to shut her down so much.
Leave A Reply