It’s a day many people have been anticipating. This Friday, December
21st, is the expected doomsday in which the world will deteriorate and
kill us all. The core to all these predictions and prophecies is from
the ancient civilization, the Mayans.
The Mayans originate from countries around South America, such as
Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and predominantly Mexico.
Historians and others observing their calendar noticed that it ends on
December 21st, 2012 and immediately indicated it was the end of the
world.
America was deeply impacted by the news, as they manage to raise
awareness quickly. A movie called 2012 was made in November, 2009,
which depicted the world in different regions destroyed from massive
earthquakes in Western North America to tsunamis washing away
Washington, DC. Because America has been fooled numerous times by
other end of the world predictions, everyone knew that this wasn’t
going to be different.
The bandwagon effect took its toll as America was terrified about
rumors spreading regarding when and what will happen. Some people
committed suicide in fear that the world was going to end soon. Others
stored food and built underground houses. Even this week, the state of
Michigan sent thousands of kids home on early break because of the
constant talk about the world ending.
Looking at the reaction around the world, the phenomenon didn’t really
impact any other country. Other than South America, it seems the
prediction is only an American phenomenon. Other countries are more
religious, which means most of them believe that no one knows when the
world will end. Russian president, Vladimir Putin, reveals at a
conference that the world will end in 4.5-7 billion years later than
the Mayan’s alleged date. Regarding the age of the sun, Putin believes
that we are at the sun’s middle stages and in a few billion years, the
sun will combust.
As Mayans gather at the pyramids, like ones in Tikal, Guatemala, they
don’t fear of the world ending. The Mayan calendar ends on Dec. 21st,
2012 as their 13 cycle (each cycle being 400 years) ends. As their
5200- year era ends, Mayans expect something big to occur.
The fact that many people in America believe the world will end only
stirs up more controversy.
“I feel people just needed something to hype about”, said Sophomore
Gabi Lewis. “It was never that it was a plausible argument, it was
just something to argue about.”
Sophomore Diana Nguyen also thought the whole prediction was
ridiculous and false. “It was stupid and it was just a hoax. There was
a similar case in 2000 when everyone thought the world was ending, and
it didn’t. Also, I saw this on twitter so I’m not sure if it’s true,
but it’s already December 21st in Australia and nothing has happened.”
As the American phenomenon dies this Friday, many hope that this will
be the last.
