A time capsule may appear to be a trivial concept to some people, but to others it would have a great deal more meaning. One that is carefully put together could help piece together an image of the past that had been previously unknown or misconstrued. This is why the items to be placed in the time capsule should be carefully chosen. An example of four such items may be an example of classical music, a diary, a history book, and a toy.
Music is a facet of human life that has been around for thousands of years, and is likely to continue for as long. Instead of picking an example of one particular genre popular today (like rock, rap, or country), classical music should be put into the time capsule. Classical music would be the best choice because it is timeless, and isn’t simply a fad that will grow dull within a few years. It should be in the form of sheet music because compact discs may be obsolete in a century, and it should also be something that isn’t as well known as the works of Bach or Mozart. Maybe in the future an unknown talent could be appreciated in their place.
The next addition to the time capsule would be a personal diary. A diary may be the most important contribution because it can showcase the thoughts and ideas of a contemporary person to a person in the future. It can help the future see what life is like now through the eyes of a modern person. A written work like this goes beyond the hard fact of a history book. Think of the diary of Anne Frank, for instance, as an example of an influential diary. Now imagine what importance a diary today could have years from now.
A history book, though stated before as being merely an unbiased collection of facts, can be important in the future for the same reasons as it is today. People need to study history because time and time again it has been proven that history repeats itself. By looking human civilization throughout history this repetition is evident. Though highly unlikely, what if the next hundred years brings about another Dark Age in which knowledge and learning is unwittingly lost? A history book could be an unbelievable treasure in such a time. After all, how can the human race know where it’s going without knowing where it’s been?
The last item in the time capsule would be a child’s toy. Children are the future, so it is only fitting to represent them in a message to the future. This toy doesn’t have to be anything spectacular. It could be as simple as a stuffed animal. The toy is added to the other items both as an antique of the past and to remember the young of today.
Four items as common as sheet music, a diary, a history book, and a child’s toy could mean so much in one hundred years. Historical significance is one thing critical in the deciding factor of what goes in the capsule. Each item should be chosen for a specific purpose or meaning, and be given some thought. Then the time capsule could be buried; the message tucked away till it can be re-discovered a hundred years from now.
Now after hearing my ideas for a good time capsule, what are yours? Why would you put those items in the time capsule?
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