Y2K — J2K

I would like to respond to a few points in Kelly Bowring's article “Jan. 1, 2000: Apocalypse or Springtime of the Faith?” (Register, April 4-10).

Firstly, the article quotes well-known Y2K expert Peter de Jager, who has recently expressed the opinion that the dangers posed by the millennium bug have more or less been averted. What the article does not tell us is that de Jager's new optimism is not shared by most other observers in the industry, for essentially two reasons. Firstly, although most government agencies and private corporations are issuing strong statements of confidence that all their key systems will be fixed in time, this confidence is not supported by the existing evidence. Both private and public agencies have consistently missed Y2K project deadlines and have repeatedly raised their project cost estimates, yet without ever changing their estimated completion dates. You don't have to be a computer programmer (as I am) to see that there is something fishy about this. Secondly, de Jager's comments apply only to the United States. Most other countries did not get started on this problem until within the last year. These nations are so far behind that they have little chance of getting all of their essential systems fixed.

Secondly, I object to the use of language such as “terror, hysteria, millennial madness and all-out panic.” It is common in the political sphere for people to vilify and mock those with whom they disagree; but I am surprised and saddened to see a representative of the Church using such tactics. I personally know a number of people who are stocking up on food, batteries and so forth; including some who have actually moved into the countryside. They are neither mad nor panic-stricken. On the contrary, they are intelligent and responsible people, who believe that hard times are approaching, and who are trying to prepare in such a way that they will be able to provide not only for their own needs, but for the needs of others as well. Some have expressed willingness to take others into their homes if things get bad. One may legitimately disagree with their estimation of the situation, but to imply that they are fanatics or lunatics is arrogant and uncharitable.

Finally I would challenge the assumption that belief in a widespread technological breakdown is incompatible with the celebration of the Christian millennium, and with the springtime of evangelization of which the Holy Father has spoken. On the contrary, such a breakdown would give us a golden opportunity to evangelize, such as the world has not seen in a long time. You see, our society has effectively made technology into a god. If Y2K-induced breakdowns occur, it will force people to recognize how foolish they were to put all their trust in the works of their own hands. We Christians can then step in and point them toward the One in Whom trust is never misplaced.

Lewis Kapell Silver Spring, Maryland