Winamop.com Thinking on the internet

Author’s Note: This little piece was written before the Charlie Kirk killing but considering the country’s division and the animosity between the two parties something like that was not surprising, maybe even inevitable.

God’s right- hand man, er, angel, Michael, was giving him the latest report on the state of the universe. Overall it wasn’t too bad. The inhabitants of the planet Og had advanced to the Iron Age. Those on the planet Einstein, said Michael, were doing relatively good. He added, “Einstein’s theory of relativity. Doing relatively good. Get it.”

“I get it,” replied God. “and I don’t like it.”

I’m sorry,” said Michael. “Then you don’t want to hear than on the planet Katz things are purring along.”

God groaned. “Michael,” he said, “I’ve taken the wings off angels for less.”

“I hear you,”said Michael. “To be serious, the people on planet Spielberg have made great strides in developing AI. That’s artificial intelligence. I’m a little worried about that.”

”I know what AI is,” said God testily. “And the inhabitants of Spielberg are highly intelligent themselves. And peaceful. Now if it was that planet Earth I’d be worried. And speaking of that pesky little planet, what’s the latest bad development there?”

“Are you sure you want to know?” asked Michael.

God sighed. “No, but you might as well tell me. I’m omniscient so I’d find out sooner or later.”

“Things on Earth, as you suggested, are pretty bad. The dictatorships - China, Russia, North Korea and also Iran - have established even closer relationships and pose a real threat.”

“Well,” said God, “what about the democracies such as the United States. Surely they’re aware of this and are taking the necessary countermeasures?”

“That’s just it. The United States, the leader of the democracies, has become even more divided than ever before and there seems to be little chance that there’ll be any change. The Democrats of course oppose anything, good or bad, proposed by the Republican President Trump.”

“Ah, TDS, Trump derangement syndrome.”

“Yes. And the Republicans, and that means Trump, constantly deride the Democrats. There seems to be little or no chance that their politicians will ever get any legislation passed on a partisan basis. One side considers the other side as the epitome of evil.”

“Evidently they never heard of that adage, United we Stand, Divided we fall.”

“If they have, they’ve forgotten it and there’s no evidence that this situation will change in the next few years. Meanwhile, the United States is woefully unprepared for another war or whatever ensues, no less prepared for a war on more than one front.”

“And those dictatorships all have nuclear weapons.”

“Unfortunately so.”

“Well, I’ve given human beings on Earth free will so I won’t intervene but I don’t like what’s going on, not one bit. Evidently the Americans also haven’t read Gibbons.”

“The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.”

“Yes. It would be a shame if some future historian will be writing about the decline and fall of the United States.”

Michael sighed. “Yes, a shame. Will you be going to the heavenly golf course now?”

“No. I’m going to the heavenly pharmacy. You’ve given me a headache. After that, I’m taking a nap, a long nap.”