Terence stood at an expansive window, overlooking rolling green hills. Small white buildings were sprinkled in the distance, nestled in the folds of the landscape. He wore a pair of white trousers and a white shirt wrapped in a tan cardigan.
He turned from the window and stood before a classroom filled with eager students. It was a rather small assemblage, no more than fifteen. They were patiently waiting for him to begin, styluses in hand, tablets at the ready. Each sat in form-fitted chairs, seeming to be adapted to each individual. The clothing they wore was quite simple, nothing called out as starkly unique.
The room itself was organized in a circle, all facing inward toward a lowered stage. Terence made his way down as the window became opaque. Suddenly, the stage was covered in a holographic representation of Manhattan. He stepped onto the stage and into the hologram.
“There was a time where the world was not as it is today,” Terence began. “All of our modern conveniences, the opportunities you now have, the richness of culture, the safety, the hope — it used to be quite different.”
“Now I know that many of you must have visited the place you see before you,” he motioned to the city around him, “but let’s discuss what it represents. In many ways, the time that the city existed in was quite paradoxical. On the one hand, humanity had reached what seemed to be the pinnacle of success, technology was accelerating, the economy growing, and information was more accessible than ever. However, it was also the darkest time in the history of our species. A time of archaic thinking, resource inefficiency, misinformation, and neglect for those things that truly matter to us in today’s world. Wisdom was not in that time.”
“If one was to look back at the history of civilizations, one finds remarkable wonders, cities that would fill us with awe, and decadence beyond one’s wildest dreams. But what were those achievements built upon? What was the cost? Most of the great civilizations were built upon the backs of slaves, genocides, war, and oppression of the lower classes. Looking at the earliest cultures or even the growth era, one can find these sorts of behaviors. Over a century ago, we saw a global system that had emerged, an interconnected free-market model. However, this system caused our close call, as it is known today. It was the decade in which we almost destroyed ourselves. Luckily, we learned and took our first steps toward a wiser future.”
He paused, allowing the class to reflect on his statement.
“So to get back to this city, why do we keep Manhattan in pristine condition despite no one living there? It is a lesson for the generations to come — a museum of the worst parts of our history, and a hope that we will never repeat it. That capacity is still within us, despite our best efforts to re-engineer society. We must not forget, we must understand, and we must not let history lose its gravity.”
The holographic city faded, the windows became transparent, and the distant buildings could be seen once more.
“Now, a mere century later, we must continue to work toward a better future — a future for all those sitting in the seats next to you. We are all connected, and only together can we continue to attain the wisdom required to flourish. One of the ways we do this is by speaking with one another, admiring our differences, and using them to make us all stronger. So for the remainder of this lecture, turn to those around you and ask them their story.”
