When thinking of the word 'epic,' several parts of its definition come to mind. Traditionally, an epic is defined as a long narrative poem, or other work of literature, that tell a tale of a historic, heroic, or legendary event or character. The Greek, Homer, always comes to mind. Characteristics of an epic include: large-scale, big, major, important, historical.
So, when we say that Hurricane Sandy was 'epic,' we mean it was big and important and of historical proportions. We live in EPIC times. It may not be correct to view an entire segment of history as epic, but it is nonetheless true. There is little of these times that is not epic. We have epic storms; epic droughts; epic floods; epic snow falls, epic heat, cold; epic economic problems; epic glacial, arctic ice melt; epic earthquakes; even epic political issues and fights. Very little in life is what we once called normal. In fact, we have epic abnormality.
What is curious is that so few seem to see the, to make up a word, epicity of the times. Is society so conditioned, so asleep from years of advertising and what amounts to brainwashing, into believing that all is 'normal' or will return to normality? This type sleepiness has often changed the course of history. The Natives slept as the Pilgrims landed. Kings slept as the peasants fomented revolution; the religious sleep to slavery and genocide; Europe slept as Adolf planned and schemed; the masses sleep as their planet is plundered for profit.
With so many 'epic' things going on, how can anyone still be sleeping? As the song said, "How can we sleep while our beds are burning?" Is the opiate of 'things' so strong that we are unable to rise from the slumber?
Perhaps it is a kind demise. To die while asleep is said to be painless. To sleep, perchance to dream of what might have been, if we but paid attention to the epic story unfolding.
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