Letter: This whole year 2000 thing flawed

There is a flaw in this whole year 2000, new century, new millennium thing.

We just completed 1,999 years on our calendar which began with Jan. 1, 1 A.D. On June 30, 2000 we will have 1,999 1/2 years, almost 2 millennium and 20 centuries worth of time. At the end of Dec. 31, 2000, one more year will have been completed and we will have an even 2,000 years.

Divide it by 1,000 and you have two millenniums since that January long ago. Divide it by 100 and you have 20 whole centuries. It is no wonder that the U.S. official time keeper, the Naval Observatory, says the third millennium and the 21st century will actually begin at that split second after midnight Jan. 1, 2001. The arithmetic is simple but nonetheless the news media have hyped the popular misconception.

One wonders how often have they fed us misinformation before, or what about tonight. And in the future, should a popular, charismatic leader arise in our midst, will they again jump on the bandwagon and promote a new Hitler, or the Antichrist that many fear, or maybe that all left-handed people are dangerous and should be eliminated? Yes, there is a flaw in this whole year 2000 thing. But new century or new millennium is the least of it.

RICH KACKSTETTER

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