Naked singularities

Reading the transcript of last night’s Bush farewell address reminded me of the errant high school chemistry student, who, when found in the lab with shards of broken glass scattered all over the floor, scorched bulletin boards, and acid-stained sinks from a chemistry experiment gone bad, confidently explains, “Well, at least the building didn’t burn down!”

Fair enough, W.  I guess you’re right.  The country still stands, a bit battered and a bit shattered, and, yep, no terrorist attacks since 9-11.  But surely we deserved better these past seven years. 

These years are a reminder of what happens to a people gripped by fear and lulled by a false sense of prosperity.  The staggering costs of failure are coming due now, and they sadden me. 

The Bush Administration is best remembered metaphorically as a once-massive star, which, exhausted and depleted after burning through all its energy, collapses to the size of a pinprick---creating what physicists call a ‘naked singularity’—the epicenter of a black hole from which no light or matter ever escapes. 

Hope—and help—is on the way.  Only four more days and not a moment too soon.