57 Years Ago
I recently mentioned the time capsules that were stored beneath Golden's liberty bell in 1918 (to be opened in 1968) and in 1968 (to be opened in 2018). The November 14, 1968 Transcript included an editorial written specifically to be included in the time capsule. It was addressed "To the People of 2018."
It makes for interesting reading. The author described the state of the country in 1968 (Vietnam war, Apollo moon launch, political assassinations, civil unrest). He wondered whether we would have air pollution under control by 2018 (much improved) and whether we would be flying around with jet packs (sadly, no). He was quite offended by hippies and wondered what type of "youth dissenters" we would need to cope with in the future.
What he didn't consider what that the hippies of that era would still be out protesting 57 years later, now joined by their children and grandchildren.
GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT EDITORIAL - NOVEMBER 14, 1968
To the People of 2018
Inasmuch as this issue of the TRANSCRIPT will be sealed in the Time Capsule to be opened in the year 2018, we thought a message to the future would be appropriate.
Only a few days ago, President Johnson called a halt to the bombing in North Vietnam in hopes of opening the door to peace in that country. That war has cost us more in lives than did any other, yet the people are divided all over this nation. There is no unity of purpose or politics as was experienced in WWII. Even the Korean war did not separate the people of this country as is the conflict now ensuing in Vietnam. We wonder how you will discuss this war in your class rooms.
We are preparing to send three men to circle the moon next month. Will our gigantc efforts seem small to you?
On page eight of this issue is a story about Martin Marietta Co. who will study design for a Mars craft. We wonder if you of the future will be on Mars.
We are in a period of civil revolt. All aspects of society are involved. Not only lay people, but educators and professionals as well, engage in active pursuit of creating disorder in the streets. They march on all phases of government with banners, songs, clubs, stones or whatever deemed expedient for that particular mob. We wonder if you have a system that pleases the people. Does it continue to aid the non worker or does it refuse to pay those who refuse to work?
Assassinations of political figures are in vogue now. Your records will show the murder of President John F. Kennedy, also the murder of his brother Robert who was campaigning for that office. Just two days ago, a plot was uncovered to assassinate President Elect Richard Nixon. Martin Luther King, a leader of the current Negro revolution, was shot and killed-the trial of the accused slayer is pending. We wonder if your leaders of government and society are able to walk the streets in safety.
Our school systems all over the nation are still squabbling over traditional (reading, writing, and arithmetic) methods or modern systems. We wonder how your children are faring and under what methods they are being taught.
We wonder who are the strongest nations of your day. Has Red China emerged to a full nuclear power or are they still so divided as to leave themselves impotent save for manpower?
Have you solved the air traffic problem? Are you in the Buck Rogers era--everyone flying around with jet packs on their backs? Do you have effective mass transcontinental transportation yet? Our only method to get from New York to San Francisco is via jet or automobile. Railroads have totally discouraged such travel preferring, instead, to haul freight. Perhaps you have a nation wide monorail system.
Have you conquered the smog problem? We are imposing laws forbiding people to burn trash and the federal government is making punitive steps to control industry to install smog dispersion devices.
What is your success ratio of heart and other internal organ transplants?
We are plagued with Hippies! Generally they are people from the age of 15 through 30. Older ones can be seen walking the streets also. The men may be characterized by their long hair and unclean look. Many partake of dopes and drugs. They are quick to come to the defense of the legality of narcotics and other stimulants which are currently against the law. The women look just like the men. Every generation has one group of rebellions, ours is Hippies. We wonder what type of youth dissenters you must cope with.
Women’s skirts are above the knee and men’s suits are returning to double breasted, as worn in the 1940's. We wonder if you are wearing basically the same type of clothing we now wear.
As we leaf through our archives, we discover artistic conceptions of the 1960's depicting space ships circling our cities with huge glass tubes containing transportation systems. The 1960’s are a far cry from those dreams. Are you now in that space age era or are you still living very much like us? Is your prime means of family transportation still the gasoline powered, rubber tired auto? Perhaps you are scooting around the country in air cushion machines with built in sensors which guide the craft along a sensitized tape hurried beneath the road? That proposal has been made.
This message to you seems to contain more questions than statements regarding the present. Perhaps this indicates man’s ability to forgive himself the errors of his day and still dream of a bright future. If this is true, we are thankful, for without forgiveness and tolerance man would have never made it to the year 1968. You of the future we say hello. We will endeavor to keep the world in one piece so you might read this.
Bob Duncan, Editor
