Just so you know, the title of this column had nothing to do with my Dad, and Dr. Phifer - although, Allen Sherman might have like it.
One of my loyal readers was looking at the recent Eureka College pictures in the paper and commented how nice it would be to be young again. Of course, it would be nice to know then, what we know now. Right then, this column was born, so you can read it now.
Some of the science fiction movies emphasize that any changes made in the past (while in time travel, etc.) have an effect on the future - well, the present, but, the present would be the future, if you were in the past. If you were to go back into the past, and make decisions based on what you know about the present, which would be your future at that point. Could the events of the past, which would be you present, at the time, affect the future, which would be your present, when you returned from the past?
If you were able to make a journey back into time, what would you do?
What changes would you make, knowing that they might change the future?
Would you consider all the unintended consequences of your actions, or, I suppose, lack of action? Because, I suspect, more people would try to undo something they had done in their past, that affected their future, or, I guess, their present.
A single change (according to the movies) could affect everything, and not just what you intended, so it would take some hindsight, or foresight, depending on your point of view.
I’m guessing that, if you read this far, you must realize what a revoltin’ development this is - or, but is it a paradox?
Jerry Riley is an occasional commentator for the News Bulletin. He is a retired telecommunications supervisor.
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