Fix Perspective

2012: Not the end of the world after all

By Madison Pollard

Junior Reporter
LONDON – As most people have heard, the ancient Mayan calendar long
ago predicted the world would end in 2012.
Mayan stela.
From the Museum of Anthropology
Xalapa, Vera Cruz, Mexico
Unfortunately, there aren’t any Mayans around to explain what they
really meant.
Luckily for me, though, I met some Mayan historians on a trip to the
Mayan Riviera in Mexico last summer.
Amazingly enough, despite the popularity of the Doomsday prediction,
the Mayans do not believe the world will end this year.
They said in their calendar 2012 marks a dramatic change in the
world, but not its destruction.
Either way, does it matter?
Given the world’s economic crisis and natural disasters such as the recent
typhoon in the Philippines becoming more and more frequent, surely we should be
more concerned with dealing with the problems at hand.
Besides, if the world does end in 2012, no one will be around to
remember it, so why all the worry?
On the other hand, there are many who have named 2012 as the year to
fulfil your dreams. And why not?
Even if the world doesn’t end on December 21, 2012 – one interpretation
of the Mayan calendar – this is bound to be a year to remember.
The Olympics are coming to England and hopefully the world’s economy
will take on a brighter look.
With so much going on, why wait for the ‘last year on Earth’ to
achieve your dreams?
For me, I resolve this year to throw myself into the things I care
about: advertising and journalism.
If the world does end, I will have spent my last days doing what I
love, and, if it doesn’t, I’m better equipped for my future.
Let’s make it a year to remember, however it ends.