Back in 2004, Stanford economist Paul Romer addressed a group of venture-capitalists. In his speech he noted the increased level of competition the US is facing in the world market due to the fact that education levels are rising in many countries around the world. Referring to the situation Romer said, "A crisis is a terrible thing to waste." Since then its been quoted by many, and paraphrased by others.
Well, today, in 2011, we've got another we've got a crisis on our hands, this time in Japan. The dangers presented by the problems with the nuclear reactors damaged by the earthquake there haven't even been fully calculated. No one knows for sure the extent of the damage, nor the future impact. While villages may need to be closed down. The water supply may be permanently poisoned. More people may yet die. What more needs to happen for us to realize that now, not tomorrow, is the time for us to take a serious look at the whole question of nuclear power, which in turn means, getting serious about addressing the energy issue. Yet the skeptic in me suspects this will be just one more news item that eventually gets replaced by another crisis. Like last summer's oil spill, we'll worry about it for a while, and then move on to something else.
I've been told that the Chinese word for "crisis" is made up of two characters, one that represents the word "danger"--and the other which represents "opportunity." The question is how do we view a crisis? Do we cower in the fear of danger? Do we close our eyes and pretend it isn't really happening? Or do we see a crisis an an opportunity to move in a new way? To create a new thing? Maybe its time to really embrace the fact that this is a global problem--one that ultimately can only be solved by a truly international effort.
A crisis is a terrible thing to waste. It can turn into even greater problems--but it can also cause you to stop and to think and to find the courage to move in a new direction. I pray that's what happens with this crisis. I hope that's the fallout.
It is true - we are much like an ostrich with our heads in the sand hoping that these may all disappear, feeling thankful and guilty at the same time as we feel blessed that it wasn't us this time. But one can't wonder as we watch one disaster after another wash over the world in waves if this isn't what happened way back in Noah's time and if, if fact, God is telling us that we have messed up again and to be prepared for life as we know it to stop. Natural disasters, economic disasters, political upheavals and unrest. I, for one am scared - for my family, for my friends, for the world. I don't know how to do anything to stop it. And it makes me cry.
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