Time Machines Fiction Or Soon-to-be Reality?
Another year has arrived; on schedule, with blank pages waiting to be filled. Ponder with me for a moment, if you will. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel in time? Recently, I was taking a writing course and the topic of time was approached. Later on, I was assigned to write an article on the subject and found the results of that research, fascinating!
As I’ve done many times in my writing career, I went to my trusty dictionary for guidance. I found that time, according to Webster’s New World College Dictionary, Fourth Edition defined as, “1. indefinite, unlimited duration in which things are considered as happening in the past, present, or future; every moment there has ever been or ever will be and 2. the entire period of existence of the known universe; finite duration as distinguished from infinity.” The phrase that struck me the most was: “every moment there has ever been or ever will be.”
That phrase hit me as one coming from a higher source. If those words can be construed as true, then it gives credence to what Christ said so long ago, “I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, thus saith the Lord.” Of course, each of us can define that statement in his or her own way; but aren’t the words intriguing?
I think the first time I ever considered the words, time machine, was when I went to the movies years ago and saw the 1960 film, “The Time Machine.” It was a wonderful movie that showed what life was like over a century ago. Later in the movie, the time machine went forward way past the 21st century; thousands of years into the future. It was an intriguing movie because it made me wonder what life might be like thousands of years from now.
H.G.Wells’ movie version showed that some of the earthlings inhabiting that fictional future were warlocks who used “aboveground people,” known as the Eloi, for food and labor. These cannibals lived in underground caves and were dwarf-like, ugly, mean and cruel.
The Eloi served as the warlock’s slaves and literally were food for the warlocks. This was frightening in itself but the movie also revealed something else terrifying; that at this period in time all knowledge of reading and writing had been banished and because of that, the Eloi had become illiterate, indifferent and mindless beings. They knew nothing on how to care for themselves or each other and were easily manipulated by the warlocks.
Fictional? Yes, but with centuries of no rules or regulations, no reading or analyzing and being controlled and manipulated by others, one might come to the conclusion that such a reclusive situation could happen. Some countries of the past and present have controlled and are controlling what their people read, think and do and the results have shown these people to be more subservient, fearful and docile; allowing the ruling government to think and do everything for them.
But, I digress. Is a time machine feasible? Could we see a time machine in our future or our children’s future? And, if so, what would we do with it? How would we use it? For good, or bad? And, where would we travel? Would be go back to the past, perhaps trying to change it? Or would we travel to the future? And once there, what would we do; what would we see?
From the Internet under the phrase “Time Machines” I found an intriguing article that was written about a man who came into a bookstore and caf in New Zealand in 1998 and left several diagrams that showed plans for a “Polyphase Warp Harmonic Field Array” (a time travel device), known in the 23rd century as “Pacifica.” As he walked out of the bookstore that day he shouted, “with compliments from the future!” He was never seen or heard from again as well as the gentleman, Winston Whitaker, a senior physicist, who examined the documents and was trying to find a way to make the machine operable. This was fascinating reading and gave me pause to think that perhaps this feat has already been accomplished and will be revealed, soon.
Personally, I believe that time travel will occur, possibly in the 21st or 22nd century. If this device were available now, I know exactly where I would travel. I would travel back to the age of the Roman Empire and see if I could find out what really brought down that powerful nation. Much has been written about the fall of the Roman Empire but I wonder, what were the hidden, internal conflicts/turmoil that brought about such a monumental demise? Some past civilizations were destroyed from within; that is to say that inner moral decadence and indifference destroyed the people and their country.
Well, I guess I’ll have to wait and see if this fantastic achievement will occur in my lifetime. Or, maybe I could try and build such a machine? This is highly unlikely since my mechanical skills are lacking.. However, maybe one of the best ways to understand and better handle time might be to heed what my father used say, “Time and money wait for no man.”
Sadly, I’ve found his statement to be true. We cannot touch or hold back time. But we can live fully and well with each day that is given to us.
