The dooms day syndrome
Now that 21 Oct 2011 had come and gone without any incident, I hope Mr. Harold Camping has started eating his own words. To refresh your memory: Camping, an evangelist from USA, had predicted the world’s end on 21 Oct 2011.
You would recall that he had announced earlier 21 May to be that fateful day. When nothing happened on that day, Camping issued an amendment saying that on 21 May 11, judgment took place and the actual dooms day would be five months later, that is on 21 October 11. Well we have crossed that D day.
21 December 2012 is another crucial day. One Robert Vicino expects something catastrophic to take place on this day. He does not say conclusively that the Earth will vanish on 21 Dec 2012, but something terrible will descend on the Earth. He has a big margin factor also unlike Camping. Robert says if we cross that day, anything could go wrong in later years also right up to the next 100 years.
Rober Vicino is a clever man. He has protected his skin by being somewhat ambiguous.
What Robert expects is a kind of tsunami or giant earthquake or a collision of some asteroids etc. on 21 December 12. It would be such a cataclysm that everything above the ground will be grazed to the ground. One would see only a desert like surface but with mounds of bricks and cement slabs and rubbles all over. So, the only way to escape this kind of destruction is to get underground, say about 60 feet below the Earth. At this depth, one is assured to be safe.
So, Robert is building around 20 under ground shelters in the USA and an unspecified number in 20 other countries to save as many people as possible. Life will be grand in these shelters. Each will have comfortable dwelling units with air conditioning and stand by power supply etc. and with provision to last at least one year. What else could you ask for?
There is no question of Robert eating his words on 22 December 2012 because he has guarded himself with a large margin. “Well, nothing has befallen on 21 December, but anything could crop up in the next 100 years?” he might say to appease you.
So, my dear friends, live happily, cheerfully and positively enjoying life to the full. And don’t lend your ears to the tale bearers. Or, listen to them with one ear and let it escape through the other immediately.
Supposing nothing occurs even a few year after 21 December 12, what would be the fate of the hundreds of underground shelters that would have been built with millions of dollars of people’s money well before 21 December? We need a contingency plan in this case also.
I have a suggestion to offer. Make these shelters a museum piece or a picnic spot or a holiday home. People could visit it or spend a day or so in the apartments for a change. Why should one go to far off new places for a holiday? Why not bank on something nearer home with no travel costs but below the ground? You can bill a visitor some 25 dollars per day without messing charges. Vicino could convert a couple of apartments in each location into five star restaurants so that those who hire an apartment could dine there. This is a method to recover the investment of $ 50,000 per dwelling unit.
And please, please Mr. Robert Vicino, don’t make any further guess work about the end of the world. Why not let God Almighty announce that date?Until then shall we have some peace on this Earth?
