Two Minutes: A diary note on Future

"We used to have this concept called "future". It implied that, at some point in time beyond now, there would be change. I reject this concept- look at where we are! We are cared for, educated, fed and entertained. I never hear of anyone dying of disease or violence. Things work, people work, the state cares for us absolutely. We can live and die in peace. What more could we want? What change could we want? Even if we could fly to the stars, what would we find there to make it worthwhile? I'm sure that in their wisdom, they have taken steps to ensure that things never change… The idea of future fills me with dread. Better to live in the Moment"

From the notes of the dissident Louk DeSalam, ca 235 STE

After writing this, my fascination with the Arabic word for future "Al-Mostaqbal / المستقبل" grew under the shower. It derives from the root "Q-B-L"- which my Hans Wehr gives far too many translations for. Assuming Mostaqbal has nothing to do with future kisses- one of the many translations is "to kiss"- I translate it literally as "the accepted". Fatalism aside, why is it not more akin to "the expected"- "Al-Montathar"? And is it really not a promise of future kisses? And considered Muqabil (same root- QBL) means equivalent, is this a statement of expectation that you will reap what you sow? Oxymoronically قبل also means before.

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