January 27, 1999

Why, oh, why are we
fearing Y2K won't be OK?
___JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP)--Were Franklin D. Roosevelt alive today, he might update one of his most famous quotes to say: "We have nothing to fear but the fear of Y2K."
___At least, that's the message of Steve Hewitt, editor of Christian Computing magazine.
___"The problem is not Y2K. The problem is the fear of Y2K," said Hewitt, a former Baptist pastor who lives in Raymore, Mo. In a recent address to Missouri Baptist leaders, he said he feels like a lone voice in trying to quell the rising panic surrounding Y2K.
___"Fear-based Y2K issues could prove to be much worse than any technology-based problem," he

STEVE HEWITT

explained.
___Y2K is a computer-programming problem centered on the use of two digits to represent a year. Predictions are that many computers will be confused when the date rolls over to Jan. 1, 2000, perhaps mistaking the new year for 1900 instead. Besides computer software, embedded chips with computer programs are in everything from coffeemakers to cars.
___Panic about the possible fallout of Y2K malfunctions is growing, especially in some segments of the Christian community. Some conservative Christian publications have been carrying full-page advertisements and lengthy articles about how to prepare for the coming disaster.
___According to these publications and other would-be prophets, every aspect of society will be affected. "This includes utilities, food, banks, communications and even national security," Hewitt explained.
___Some alarmists are urging the prudent to store a year's supply of food and cash in mutual funds and certificates of deposit to buy gold.
___"One world economic leader is saying there is a 70 percent chance of an economic disaster greater than the Great Depression," Hewitt said. "Bob Bennett, chairman of the Senate Y2K oversight committee, said early on that Y2K could be 'the end of western civilization as we know it.'"
___While gaining much attention, this is not the only perspective on the Y2K issue, Hewitt said. Another perspective, which he holds, is that Y2K will be a bump in the road, "a personal inconvenience, almost non-existent."
___The greatest thing to fear is those who are so fearful, he asserted.
___Hewitt said some Christian leaders with a national audience have played a key role in sensationalizing Y2K fears, but have done so based on "poor theology."
___"Christians are leading the panic attack in America," he said. "We have a hierarchy of churchless pastors who are saying Y2K is the judgment of God."
___Also, dated and incorrected material is fueling Y2K fears, he said, citing as an illustration a claim made while he was a guest on Focus on the Family's radio talk show. Someone reported that the president of General Motors had said no cars could be made for an entire year after Y2K.
___"I asked what the source was, and I was told it was a 1998 issue of Fortune magazine," he said. "I checked it out, and no such thing was said by the GM president or anyone else. The real quotation was made back in 1996--that Y2K could cause 'catastrophic problems' if not solved in time."
___Hewitt said that quotation might have been accurate in 1996 but was outdated by the time it was repeated two years later.
___Bad information such as this has been perpetuated, creating urban legends that are fueling unnecessary panic, he said.
___While disputing alarmists, Hewitt said he believes Y2K could have the following effects:
___Some computer glitches. "This is nothing new; we deal with them every day," he said. Addressing concerns about air travel, Hewitt said 70 percent of air traffic could go on as scheduled, because controllers already routinely use hard copies and graphs as backups to their computer systems.
___Some economic backlash. "It's scary that people are being told to pull money from stock markets and banks," he said. If less than half the customers of credit unions pull $500 more than usual from their accounts, Hewitt said, it will cause a $6 billion deficit, "and they will call in loans."
___Still, for Christians wanting to prepare for Y2K, Hewitt suggested to prepare only for an economic recession brought on by Y2K panic. As a precaution, obtain a hard copy of your credit report, he also suggested. And check personal computers for Y2K compliance.

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