Well, May 21, 2011 came and went without much fanfare. No devastating worldwide earthquake. No zombies running wild through the streets. Half the human population didn’t suddenly disappear. No apocalypse, no Armageddon.
At first, I found it rather amazing how much attention this prophesy garnered. Practically everyone I know was talking about it. I know I was discussing it. But I’m a somewhat peculiar person, fascinated by all things strange, morbid, and fantastical. Then I really got to thinking about all the chatter surrounding the prediction. While it is true that many were laughing at Mr. Camping, I think that most people are fascinated by and perhaps, fearful of, the end of the world. Think about how many films have been made about possible ‘end of the world’ or post apocalyptic scenarios, from devastating natural disasters (The Day After Tomorrow) to zombie creating viruses (I am Legend) to alien invasions (War of the Worlds). And really, don’t we all understand that the ‘end of the world’ most likely means, ‘the end of people’, or the end of humanity as we know it. The human race has been obsessed with trying to forecast the ‘end’ since the beginning. Look at the basis of the 2012 prophesy. People believe the Mayan calendar has the world ending in 2012. This is an ancient civilization we are talking about here!
So, what is it about us humans that we are so enthralled with ‘end of the world’ predictions? Is it that we are all, in some way, fascinated with the dark and morbid? That would explain the success of all those zombie and alien movies. Or is it that we want to know, to understand death and what comes after? Is it that we want to be reassured that there is more, and that more will be something better, that we will find ourselves in Heaven (whatever you may think it to be) and live on? Perhaps we are afraid of what we don’t know or understand and we have this uncontrollable urge to control everything. Is it that we want our lives, our world, to end when we’re damn well ready for it to end? Or maybe it’s that we don’t ever want any of it to end and we’ll do whatever we can to fight the inevitable.
In the end (pun intended), there isn’t much we can control or foresee. The ‘end’ can come at any moment, be it the end of an individual life or the end of all. And we don’t really know what happens after death or what will happen after Armageddon. So, why be obsessed with trying to figure it out? Why worry about where you’ll be or what you’ll do? It is better to live and love to the fullest, to relish every moment, every breath. You can’t be so afraid of dying, of the end, that you forget to live. So, get out there and live and love as if it were your last day, because it could be. Discover the world, make new friends, learn new things, play, laugh, jump out of a plane (with a parachute of course), whatever, just be present.
But keep a stockpile of water and canned goods just in case.
Just for fun, and maybe a few tips, here are some of my favorite apocalyptic/post apocalyptic films:
1. The Road
2. Zombieland
3. 28 Days Later
4. Dawn of the Dead
5. Shaun of the Dead
6. Mad Max and Road Warrior
7. Matrix series
8. Children of Men
9. 9
