Sunday, May 2, 2010

The Industrial Revolution

There was a big revolution in the 1800s, called the Industrial Revolution.

This is a revolution that we could've very well lived without. Because it brought in all the decay and dismal dealings that made up the proto-industrial section of the world. The proto gave way to the present, so now, out of those despicable roots, we have one industrial section after another.

How great it must've seemed to the people at the time, not knowing the bitter fruit that would result from this revolution. They suddenly had a way of turning out finished products without lifting a finger. Just turn on the machine, sit back and watch.

But I can well imagine how it went, the first little whiff of pollution that escaped that first factory. They said, "How quaint, a little puff of dirty smoke just went out the window. We need to open the window further." Everyone laughed and that was it. Next thing they had a bigger puff of smoke and someone said, "We need a pipe to carry it above our particular building." That is, it was a very localized problem, not even a problem, really, but a source of pride, "Our puff of smoke is bigger than yours." Finally, of course, the whole city was so overrun with pollution that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face, and all the white moths turned black. Which is why we have black moths to this day, as a testimony to the filth in the air in that day,

If someone, perhaps a prophet, would've stood up and decried it all, it might not have made a difference, for the heart of man is deceitfully wicked, but at least we would've had it on record, the realization that I have today, that there is terrible evil in the industrial sections of the world.

And just like today, the prophet would've been ridden out of town on a rail, which they were just in the process of inventing, so they'd have one to ride people out of town on. I have to be careful. The industrial powers are sleeping in my trees and clogging up my internet today. But back then they would've been sleeping in the other prophet's trees and clogging up his telegraphy system. So that he'd be reduced to the stratagem of dressing like his grandmother and riding to the outskirts of town to send a simple telegram! It's the same story with me, writing this blog post at the college in Grandma's discarded dress!

Well, the cat's out of the bag! The toothpaste has left the station! And we have only ourselves to blame, in addition to the millions of people all along the way since the Industrial Revolution, who put their own convenience and lusts ahead of the common good. They dropped the ball in their day, just as we continue to drop it in our own. Except for me, the prophet who eschews everything that the industrialists put forth.

If I could go back in time and nip the Industrial Revolution in the bud, I would, in a heartbeat. Then I would wake up with the satisfaction today, perhaps unknown to all but myself along, that I made a way for the world to go back to craftsmanship and tinkers and spared it all the pollution we suffer from the industrial sections, as well as sparing weeds and grass everywhere the indignity of being sucked down into the mud by speeding trucks passing by.

There'll never be another first chance to destroy the Industrial Revolution. That train left the station a long time ago! But we can make up for lost time, if only we will, and destroy the bitter fruits of that terrible revolution in our own town, then perhaps the whole world.

God being our help, we shall!

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