PROLOGUE
Technology races ahead, faster than a speeding train or rocket ship or multi-core microprocessor. Human nature, however, only inches forward, slowly, reluctantly, like a glacier. It is the basest of human nature that people believe their own status quo is holy, their own moment in time is unique and fragile, and that other people -- those who are different -- are enemies. Embracing diversity is a choice that many people refuse to make. Our lowest nature is inclined toward mental and moral laziness. We choose the simple path of grouping “them” together by easy-to-spot differences such as race, religion, gender, or whatever, because it is much simpler than evaluating individuals based on the content of their character. This behavior results in demeaning, denigrating, and destroying groups that are vulnerable to attack by those who are predominate in a society.
In the United States of America, it is not supposed to be like this. “All men are created equal,” we say. But it is like this. And always has been like this. And always will be like this.
That’s what Nate and Kelly discover in 1915.
Michael R. Barnard
New Year’s Eve, 2011
Los Angeles, Calif
