When I was five years old, I was introduced to Disney’s Magic Kingdom. I loved all the themes, but especially enjoyed Tomorrowland and "The City of the Future." I fervently believed that technology would make everything even better. Utopia!
Fast forward sixty one years...
Today we have technology in the palm of our hand that even Walt Disney's imagineers never imagined. We have a television studio and a powerful computer in our pocket, we are connected with one another around the globe, and renewable energy is more economical that fossil fuels. You might think that we have indeed created the technological future that we imagined over six decades ago.
But we aren't living in Utopia. Somewhere along the way, we drifted off the rails. Only a handful of people are allowed in the gated community of Utopia and everyone else is left in the dystopian futures of the Matrix. Or Mad Max. Or Idiocracy.
What ever happened to Tomorrowland?
In the 2015 movie of the same name: Tomorrowland, this question was asked: "When did we stop imagining a positive future for ourselves and our world?" When did we believe that the future would be bleak and there is little we can do to change that?
I reckon we have a choice. And we definitely have agency.
Despite the challenges humans and our planet face together, we can choose to re-imagine a positive future for ourselves, one where humans live in right relationship with the living systems and with each other. I do know this: Life on Earth needs all of us now.
Thomas Berry once said “The Dream Drives the Action.” I, for one, will start by believing it is possible and take a few steps right here at home. In the coming months, I’ll re-focus once again on personal and local action, re-building community, and ecosystem restoration.
Imagine doing this work together with joy.
All we can do now is take baby steps toward goals of love and inclusion. If we do that with joy, there's no way we won't succeed. Thank you for your thoughtful words.
Thanks - I needed to hear that and I love the Disney link. Walt would be so upset to see what has happened. He gave us the dream of a bright future and I have always loved him for that.