If you’re reading this, you have survived the start of the new millennium.

Sunday, January 02, 2000

If you’re reading this, you have survived the start of the new millennium. Well, not the new millennium, because that officially doesn’t happen until next year, but at the very least Y2K. Of course most of humanity has decided that the millennium starts at 2000, so we’ll call that good and just move along.

For years now everyone, and I mean everyone, has been preoccupied with surviving the first few minutes of the year 2000. The calendar rollover has occupied everyone’s time, with little thought or discussion about what the next thousand years will hold for humankind.

By the time you start reading this we should be 32-36 hours into the next millennium. We have survived, now what?

A thousand years is a long, long time. Most of us living today will not even spend 100 years on Earth, so our time is precious. Just think how far we have come and how far we have to go.

The start of the new millennium is an exciting time. Those of us fortunate to be here at this moment have a rare opportunity. We have the opportunity to shape the next thousand years.

We have the ability to make sure the millennium gets off to an inspiring start and that people throughout the world are moved to greatness.

We have accomplished much, yet so much more needs to be done. If we can continue to advance technologically, eliminate war and violence, feed the hungry, cure the sick and insure everyone’s human rights, we will have only scratched the surface.

It’s a safe bet that Y3K will look dramatically different than Y2K. It’s our job to make sure the change is for the better.

Now is the time to dream of a world using clean solar energy; a world that has developed alternative food sources; a world where people live healthy productive lives for 200 years; a world where high-speed, instantaneous travel exists; a world where the moon has been colonized and Mars isn’t far behind; a world that no longer has man-made boundaries; a world that is peaceful and full of happiness.

We have been given an empty slate. Yes, a slate wiped clean by man’s calendar, but indeed a clean slate. Let’s use this rare opportunity to make a positive impact.

Happy New Millennium.

Neal Ronquist is the publisher of the Austin Daily Herald. His column appears Sundays