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Oliver@Expressionsofsoul.com New York, USA

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THAT BLACKOUT IN AMERICA:
A BRIEF RETURN TO REALITY
(lessons and humor)

THE REALITY:

t will never happen again." That was the claim of the authorities when New York experienced an electric failure that resulted in a blackout 26 years ago. It is hard to imagine that someone would promise that a mechanical or electric product would not suffer a malfunction "forever.' But then, some people believed such claims. Well, it did happen again. August 14, 2003 and most part of Northeast America up to Canada were without electricity. That is the reality and it is official.

Incidentally, light was restored the next day. During the blackout, some of us went about our businesses like it was just another interesting day, but not for most Americans. Many were witnessing an electric failure for the first time. Some are now hoping that they would never witness a blackout again for the rest of their lives (how interesting). For a brief moment, there was a return to reality - nature's status quo, so to say. Realistically, many people were reminded of the artificiality of technology. Suddenly, people were panicking, wondering how they would pull through the night, but we all did survive. Many were disappointed who thought that the world would come to an end if such technological edge like electricity were to be non-existent. They realized how wrong they were. Many people slept without air-conditioner and they still woke up the next day. Some drank warm water and soda and they still lived. I must confess that I was not able to do anything on any of the four websites that I maintain on a daily basis, and yet the world did not crucify me. For the first time in several months I was forced to take a break from my computer and I did not die.

Immediately the lights went out, an American friend of mine managed to get through to me by phone. He was concerned by my calm attitude and he couldn't understand why I thought it was no big deal (although I was glad I was not one of those subway riders who got stuck for a while in the railway tunnel). My American friend would have to go and spend some nights in some third world cities like Lagos (Amukoko, Ajegunle, Mushin, etc.) for him to understand why blackout is no big deal to some of us.

THE HUMOR:
In the midst of the entire hullabaloo, I was amusingly entertained by the innocent but interesting reactions of many children to the blackout. Of course since they were born, these children never witnessed a complete dark night. The son of one of my relatives went around blowing off the candles that his mother had lit in the house. The kid would jubilate with a shout of "happy birthday" each time he blew off the light on each candle. The mother had to chase him around all night to stop him from repeatedly blowing off the candlelight and celebrating multiple birthdays in one night. The other kid (his brother) kept asking why the TV would not come on since the TV is the source of light to the house. Who would blame the kids in a society where the system has made games and television tube (rather than human beings) the main stay of children interaction? Remember, many of us knew our first "dark night" the same day we were born.

THE LESSONS:
A friend of mine, who lived in Lagos before moving to the United States, was so proud of his ability to accommodate such situations like blackouts. He reminded me of the time I spent in Amukoko Lagos, and we both agreed that in comparison, the blackout in America was heavenly when compared to what people experienced and still experience in third world countries like Nigeria where electric authorities like NEPA were/are synonymous with blackout. We had to contend with stubborn mosquitoes, stuffy rooms shared by numerous people (father, mother, children, relatives, extended family members, etc. in one room). Yet we lived. But here in America, cooling centers were provided; people could find and afford to buy good flashlights, lasting batteries, candles, etc. EMS, Ambulances, Fire Department, and other emergency services were ready and available.

The Mayor of New York went on the airwaves praising New Yorkers for their resilience while some people claimed to be heroes for going through one night of blackout. Very interesting. This would make many Angels of those who have been in some African communities for months and years without having their electricity restored. Let us not forget that many third world countries are still undersupplied with electricity. Suffice to say that many of us who have tasted the grounds and black nights of places like Lagos remained calm and collective during the blackout. It was one of those occasions when Americans had to watch and learn the art of survival from Africans.

Such is the course of life. Situations of seeming hardship are sometimes essential towards learning and building a greater resilience in us. Yet, as some of us remain proud of our ability to survive without electricity, we must also acknowledge some gains of electricity and technology. Survival includes being smart about living life. Survival by dependence on nature is great but electricity could be helpful, and this is why these third world countries have to emulate a system, which allows only one electric failure in 26 years. That may seem like a long journey, but "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," so says Lao Tzu.

Oliver Mbamara, Esq., is an Administrative Law Judge with the State of New York.