by Edcer Escudero
Human culture is made up of periods or ages that have distinctive characteristics or achievements.
The earliest known period of man was the stone Age, which was characterized by the general use of stone as principal tool, implement and weapon for survival.
Then came the Bronze Age, the Iron Age and the Ice Age. The stone, bronze and iron ages are the three divisions of prehistoric times – 500,000 to 1,000,000 years B.C.
Today, we are in the incredible Computer Age and enjoying its amazing, super exciting technological wonders – smart phones, laptops, internet surfing and browsing, wireless broadband, e-mail, e-chat, digital photos, Bluetooth, MP345, blog, YouTube, watchpad, Facebook, Twitter, teleconference, download, upload, etc.
The Stone Age lasted for about 2,000 years. The Computer Age is less than a century old. How long will it last? No one can tell for certain.
So, what’s next for mankind?
Last October 13, the Global Campaign for Climate Change (GCCA), the umbrella organization of all the Greenpeace groups in our country, held a special screening of a documentary film “The Age of Stupid” in Quezon City. It seeks to create global awareness of climate change and the impending catastrophe that will put our planet in great and devastating peril.
The film highlights the careless, mindless, irresponsible, destructive and stupid way man treats his environment and his fellow humans. It gives the stern warning that one day our dear planet earth would be a vast, polluted, dirty and unlivable human habitat.
Are we living in a stupid age? Well, there is no formal declaration, as yet, by scientists and world authorities of a stupid age. But earth watchers have seen and felt ample solid evidence of the dawning of such an age in this millennium. Consider these:
– The unabated hi-jacking of cargo ships in the African seas by unschooled and impoverished Somalian pirates who have collected over #$30 million from some 40 foreign-owned vessels over the past several years.
– The endless suicide bombings in Iraq, Pakistan, Indonesia, India, the Philippines, Europe by religious fanatics.
– The almost periodic kidnap for ransom activities of the Abu Sayyaf bandits victimizing innocent Filipinos and foreign nationals doing humanitarian work in the country.
– An Honorable US congressman heckling the US President while he was delivering a speech in Congress.
– An Iraqi reporter throwing his pair of shoes at a visiting US Pres. George W. Bush during a press conference. The reporter has been hailed by his countrymen as a hero.
– A married man with a string of police records kidnapped an 11-year old girl in America and held her in captivity for 18 years with the knowledge of his wife. The girl bore him seven children.
– A confirmed drug addict had sex with a female goat.
– Members of Parliament in Italy, Taiwan and Korea forgot their decorum and engaged in fisticuffs in the middle of parliamentary sessions, throwing their microphones and hurling chairs at each other.
– An ex-president who is an ex-convict wants to be president of his country once more.
– A junior senator breaks away from his political party and downgrades political parties as useless in a democracy, and pontificates that the voters constitute his party. (Probably his birthday party?)
Are we seeing the dawn of the Stupid Age? What do you think?
