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Why the Academic Circus is Making the Earth’s Problems Worse
Welcome to a twenty-first century freak show
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages. Welcome to the world’s greatest circus!”
The Ringmaster greeted us with a powerful, booming voice. His black top hat and bright red tailcoat with gold trim brought the memories flooding back.
My wife and I were ready for a fun afternoon. It must have been more than forty years ago since either of us visited the circus. But somehow, we felt the same sense of anticipation — thrilled at the thought of seeing the acrobats, trapeze artists, magicians, and clowns.
We knew there wouldn’t be any lions or other wild animals and wondered whether hypnotists were still allowed.
It was pure nostalgia — a trip down memory lane.
When we entered the tent, it was as if time had stood still. The interior was exactly the same as we remembered from our childhoods. The musty smell of old tarpaulin. The uncomfortable seats. The stands at the back selling thick, sweet lemonade.
But truth be told, everything felt a little less magical as adults.
We noticed that there weren’t many children in the audience. Apparently, a visit to the circus…
