Singleton writes of man's small place in the universe, the environment

George Buster Singleton

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “No control: Man small minority in universe,” was originally published in the July 15, 1976 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

As we celebrated the 200^th birthday of our country last week, few of us realized just how important it was – and will be in the days ahead.

July 4 reminded us that we have survived 200 years of trying times, struggling from a few miserable colonies to the world’s greatest and wealthiest nation.

Throughout our nation, we re-enacted the highlights of past accomplishments. We celebrated to the fullest each event that history has recorded, and we looked back across the stained pages saying to ourselves that we have come a long way.

True, we have gained great fame and have accomplished many things. But what about the years ahead?

What about the problems that face our nation today? Will we look the other way as we have in the past on many of the important issues, or will we face the problems head-on and strive with all the ability that we can muster to correct the damage that must be corrected if we are to survive?

Man must realize that he must live in harmony with nature if he wishes to continue to stay on this planet. He cannot destroy all that he has, and not replace some of the essentials that we must have to continue life.

Man forgets that he is nothing more than a small minority when he’s measured against the universe. Even with great knowledge and ability to build and create, there are some things he has no control over whatsoever.

Clean up mess

So unless he starts immediately to clean up the mess that he has made of the waters of our land, the air that we breathe, in the pollution of Mother Earth, only echoes that ride the winds of oblivion will bear traces that he has ever come this way.

How pathetic it will be when the beauty of our environment has all gone and the fresh air and clean water cease to be. The folks who survive will scatter here and there, digging and trying to hide from the wrath of a dying universe that had promised so much.

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, was bitten at least twice by venomous snakes, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)