The millennium

The world has gone mad about the year 2000, especially that section involved in getting computers to work properly on Day 1 of it. That is a small scientific problem, and it will get sorted out.

But why is 2000 such a big thing otherwise, with massive celebrations promised from Wagga Wagga to Washington, Lampung to London and so on?

The number 2000 based on the birth of Jesus Christ is solely a Christian matter. Why have Islamic nations, for whom it is 1419, Buddhist nations, for whom it is 2549, and Jews, for whom it is at least 4000, all joined the bandwagon?

If you think of it all that way, Jan. 1, 2000, should be just on ordinary day, and we would all save a lot of money otherwise spent on celebrating.

On the other hand, there is so little to celebrate happily and unitedly on a global scale, that perhaps we had better leave it as it is!

DEREK C. SEAGROVE

Jakarta