Independent

It's breezy today -farewell kisses blown back from Floyd. The sky is a flawless blue and the glider on the screen porch is luring me to linger with another cup of coffee. Easily seduced when I have a deadline, I submit. I breathe in deeply this perfect morning, with profound appreciation for the relief from the past oppressive summer heat.

Relaxed and reflective, my mind wanders around, pausing on yesterday and all the new signs of y2k awareness I encountered while running my errands. The Ace Hardware now has a Y2K Center. On display are kerosene heaters, lanterns and several different types of generators. There is also a small sign announcing that all y2k merchandise is non -refundable. I considered quizzing the manager how he could tell the difference between a regular shopper of these items and a y2k shopper. But I didn't. What would that have accomplished?

Then off to the bank where in bright, confident blue font on the cash envelope I was assured that all was well with my bank on the issue of y2k readiness. There's even a number I can call to reaffirm this. I don't mind telling you, all relieved, I exhaled.

Next, I dashed into the Kroger and found an end cap display of canning supplies and Scripto multipurpose lighters. An interesting combination. In the magazine racks there are large y2k letters on the covers of several magazines. I've spotted big blue water barrels sitting out in front of a clothing store and recently I noticed four wire-caged poly containers in a front yard. The handmade sign propped in front said, "For Sale- food grade". Yep, there are signs. I think mostly it is representative of people cashing in on the possibilities. But then, if you think about it, conversely, if someone is cashing in someone must be buying. Someone, maybe a bunch of someones has figured out how to think independently.

Sipping my coffee, I wonder how we got to this place and I'm not talking about the boiler plate year/date -programmers-saving-space-thingy that is inserted in every report about the 00 date changeover like there is still someone left who hasn't heard about it. No, I'm talking about this dependence or more specifically, this dearth of self-sufficiency. We have become, in our blind haste into mindless progress, dependent, vulnerable and essentially helpless because we don't have to think for ourselves anymore. We have worshipped at the alter of the dubious gods of convenience and speed until we have become enslaved to the concept that any innovation that removes us farther away from effort is better. At the risk of being labeled "anti-progressive" I confess out loud I see immeasurable damage done in the past twenty years to basic human resourcefulness and general problem solving skills simply because we have capitulated to the system and/or advertising that brainwashes and manipulates our thought processes. What intangibles in terms of instincts and creativity have been exchanged for nothing more than quick results?

I teach people how to make things. The first obstacle I encounter is the attitude that is pervasive in this electronic culture. "I'm not creative" is what I hear over and over again. I sigh and respond to this by asking this question, did you believe that when you were a child? Were you born that way, or was it leached out of you over time because you never had to use your creativity? I have never seen a new human who wasn't curious and inventive. I have met plenty of grown humans who have forgotten this.

I realize my philosophy on this issue won't set well with techies who make their living using their creativity to make devises that "make life better". But what about the end user who loses, in bits and pieces, day by day, the ability to think and do for himself. It is a subtle erosion, almost imperceptible. For example, I chose not to have an ATM card early on, because I could see down the road that I would become dependent on it. Have you ever been in a hurry for cash and then had your card refused because the magnetic strip was damaged? A little thing you say. But without this crutch, I am responsible to myself to remember to plan ahead and go to the bank when it is open. Call it a routine exercising of my embedded memory chips. It could certainly be argued that an ATM card is only a tool and should be used with prudence. But, in general, people are too busy and lazy to be prudent – they allow themselves to be the used instead of remaining the user; controllee instead of controller. Inch by inch humanity is losing its grip on self-responsibility and accountability because it is easier and indeed faster to let someone or something else do the thinking and ultimately shoulder the blame when something goes wrong. "I can't believe this stupid machine is out of order – now where am I going to get money!" instead of "oh, man, I should have stopped at the bank on my way home!".

Can't stop progress, can't stop progress, I can hear the mantra now. I'm not suggesting we stop progress and return to the dark ages. I am only saying I see the handwriting on the wall and I am making choices for myself based on what I see and know about human nature, most particularly my own. This includes not embracing every innovation just because it purports to make my life easier and more convenient. I ask questions now. Will this modern convenience contribute to making my brain turn to mush? And yes, I'm a maverick, perhaps dangerous even, to hold fast to independence and self-reliance. But I trust the old axiom about being true to one's self.

And what I know about myself is that I feel the most secure and less at the mercy of the misjudgment of others when I think independently regardless how far outside the box that puts me.