Monday, January 23, 2017

Carl Sagan Foresaw Today


Astronomer Carl Sagan left a vacuum with his passing. Fortunately, he also left behind a great deal of timeless wisdom. Consider this in the "alternative fact" world of Donald J. Trump.


“I worry that, especially as the Millennium edges nearer, pseudoscience and superstition will seem year by year more tempting, the siren song of unreason more sonorous and attractive. Where have we heard it before? Whenever our ethnic or national prejudices are aroused, in times of scarcity, during challenges to national self-esteem or nerve, when we agonize about our diminished cosmic place and purpose, or when fanaticism is bubbling up around us - then, habits of thought familiar from ages past reach for the controls.

The candle flame gutters. Its little pool of light trembles. Darkness gathers. The demons begin to stir.”


1 comment:

the salamander said...

.. that last sentence.. with the demons begin to stir.. Outstanding !
What a fine article.. WoW .. merci beaucoup !