Empty Words: Writings ’73–’78

Foreword

Recently I was a houseguest in Paris. At breakfast I was talking with another guest in the same home, a lady from Australia. In response to a newsreport, I said, "Why? Why did it happen?" The lady from Melbourne said, "That is a question for which there is no longer an answer." I am an optimist. That is my raison d'etre. But by the news each day I've been in a sense made dumb. In 19731 began another installment of my Diary: How to Improve the World (You Will Only Make Matters Worse): it remains unfinished. Foreword Buckminster Fuller too from prophet of Utopia has changed to Jeremiah. He now gives us eight to ten years to make essential changes in human behaviour. Perhaps all of us are needlessly shocked and alarmed. A subtle but radical change may be taking place which only superficially deprives us of our wits, which fundamentally is altering for the good mankind's condition. Let us hope so. Wishful thinking? Foreword : ix This page intentionally left blank E M P T Y W O R D S This page intentionally left blank ...