Even before my first glimpse of the world
I was assailed by sound.
The insistent knocking of a woodpecker, intent in it's task.
The mocking laughs of hyenas.
An insistent bullfrog makes his appeal for a mate.
The droning and buzzing of insects.
The trumpeting roar of an elephant, the chattering screams of chimps.
The sweet sounds of birds chatting, gossiping, making nests for the breeding season.
Like a bustling community, the air was alive with sound.
I opened my eyes and was greeted with
the very vibrancy of life.
Every hue and every shade of every color
was represented.
The verdant greens of the leaves and grass, the brilliant gold of the sun.
A flash of red in the bush - a tail of a squirrel, more interested in his search for nuts.
A shy brown eye peeks out from the treetop - a lemur looks out on the world.
Earthy browns and tans float by, patterend like camoflage tablecloths. A herd of Giraffe.
Colors, textures, feathers, fur and scales. All were a sight to behold.
Some melded with their surroundings so well as to seem
a part of that tree or rock on which they sat.
Something rings false.
They are not preying upon each other, as they would in nature.
What then is this congress about?
My eyes are caught and held by that gentle lemur.
In his eyes I see. They must band together
to survive the worst predator of all.
It is unnatural.
The air gets cold, the sun wan and sickly.
The noises are becoming fainter until
an eerie silence reigns.
The silence is deafening.
A ghost of a wind wails
for the diversity of nature, gone.
For the riches of earth, gone.
The rebuke is just, but it is too late.
Man wails and beat his fists on the deadened ground.
And appeals for another chance, to bring life back to this desolate place.
I turn my back and walk away.
The speaker for the dead.
The living monument to the folly of Mankind.
Think you in your arrogance to bring them back?
With your sciences and progress,
and refrigerated genes?
To what end? To prove your mastery over nature?
Over the glorious mystery that is Life?
Were the billions of dollars worth
the annihalation of the rainforests?
Stand now and watch
the slow death of Earth,
our nurturing mother.
And know that it was within you to prevent it.
All the while.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
The Meaning of Life
Sleep eludes me. Actually, I have been fighting a losing battle with that dream-filled state wherein your body and mind regenerate and renew. Either my sleep is haunted by nightmares and horrific dreams, or my ever restless mind wont cease its wanderings enough for me to fall into sleep.
So I end up at 12:20am blogging silly thoughts and obscure points of philosophy in an attempt to appease Morpheus, Lord of Dreams in exchange for one night's peace of mind. Maybe these thoughts that need to be heard are an offering of sorts to the Gods of the Mind in exchange for quiesence in that vast chamber located in my skull, that teems with activity at all hours, like the Grand Central Station of deliberation, contemplation and intellect.
In any case, here is another silly blog: The Meaning of Life
I have decided that I know what the meaning of life is. Although, this is my interpretation, and thus only applicable to me. Others have differing Meanings of Life, which is as it should be, because each person's life is unique to them, and it stands to reason that the Meaning of such grandiose concepts such as Life, should be individual as well.
Well, so here is what the Meaning of Life is to me: Connection
Sounds simple, no? The great things usually are. But I will explain. To me, the meaning, or purpose, of the journey of Life is to make connections. To connect to nature, beauty, people, cultures, art - things that move us, that make us want to learn, explore, experience, be better people. Things that inspire us to try, to try again, to reach out. If I were ever in a situation where I could not make a connection to someone, or something around me, I would feel cut off from the beauty, the point, the essence of Life.
It is fascinating to me to talk to people. To learn about their lives, their concerns and hopes, their passions and pain. To connect. Even though there is almost never anything i can do to make their problems go away, or change their plight, i like to feel that they walk away with a sense of being less alone in their tribulations. i believe there is always something to learn from each and every person. and if you listen hard enough, you can walk away with that lesson, and be a better person for just having that conversation with the stranger on the train.
When i am sorely troubled with my own worries and issues, i make an effort to chat people up on trains and buses, or in the coffee shop or on the street. i always find that someone makes me feel better inadvertently, though they know nothing about whats on my mind, simply because they respond in a friendly way and make me feel less alone.
Simply put, loneliness is the Antithesis of Life. Connection is the Meaning of Life.
At least, *I* think so.
So I end up at 12:20am blogging silly thoughts and obscure points of philosophy in an attempt to appease Morpheus, Lord of Dreams in exchange for one night's peace of mind. Maybe these thoughts that need to be heard are an offering of sorts to the Gods of the Mind in exchange for quiesence in that vast chamber located in my skull, that teems with activity at all hours, like the Grand Central Station of deliberation, contemplation and intellect.
In any case, here is another silly blog: The Meaning of Life
I have decided that I know what the meaning of life is. Although, this is my interpretation, and thus only applicable to me. Others have differing Meanings of Life, which is as it should be, because each person's life is unique to them, and it stands to reason that the Meaning of such grandiose concepts such as Life, should be individual as well.
Well, so here is what the Meaning of Life is to me: Connection
Sounds simple, no? The great things usually are. But I will explain. To me, the meaning, or purpose, of the journey of Life is to make connections. To connect to nature, beauty, people, cultures, art - things that move us, that make us want to learn, explore, experience, be better people. Things that inspire us to try, to try again, to reach out. If I were ever in a situation where I could not make a connection to someone, or something around me, I would feel cut off from the beauty, the point, the essence of Life.
It is fascinating to me to talk to people. To learn about their lives, their concerns and hopes, their passions and pain. To connect. Even though there is almost never anything i can do to make their problems go away, or change their plight, i like to feel that they walk away with a sense of being less alone in their tribulations. i believe there is always something to learn from each and every person. and if you listen hard enough, you can walk away with that lesson, and be a better person for just having that conversation with the stranger on the train.
When i am sorely troubled with my own worries and issues, i make an effort to chat people up on trains and buses, or in the coffee shop or on the street. i always find that someone makes me feel better inadvertently, though they know nothing about whats on my mind, simply because they respond in a friendly way and make me feel less alone.
Simply put, loneliness is the Antithesis of Life. Connection is the Meaning of Life.
At least, *I* think so.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Musings on Nationhood
What is the soul of a country? Its people? Its culture? Its history? Its accomplishments?
How do you measure the contribution of a country or nation peopled by diverse individuals who, even as a group, can't be lumped into one huge monolithic stereotype of nationhood?
And what is more important for a Nation - its contribution to the betterment of the plight of its people, or its contribution to the worldwide community of nations to which it belongs?
What truly governs a nation - the needs of the majority of those that rely on its protection and power? Or a collection of the chosen few with the money, connections, and clout who represent, ostensibly, the needs of the nameless, faceless masses on whose backs he/she stands?
Pedestals are precarious places to stand on. One small step in any direction and you are likely to fall off altogether.
If I were a nation, would I prefer to be known as the one who enriched the world with art, music, literature and dance? Or would I prefer to have the reputation as the "strong one", the "tough one", the "top of the food chain"? Would i prefer to have a poorer per capita income, but a healthier populace, both in body and spirit? Or would I prefer to make my focus entirely financial, regardless of the effects pursuing profit may have on my citizens?
How does a nation's personality develop? Are the leaders, who represent the epitome of Nationhood, the ones who create images and impressions that become known as personality traits of Nationals from that locale? Is it a perception fostered and bandied about by the community of nations in the world which makes a nation stereotyped as being a certain way? Can one international incident create such a strong perception as to change the way the world treats with said nation?
Do nations have rights as an entity? does one nation, notwithstanding the desires and needs of its citizens, have the right as a monolithic entitiy to impose ideas, ideals or beliefs on other nations? to not play nicely with others in the sandbox? to forcefully take what it feels it wants, or pressure another nation to give up something it holds dear on a whim? would that nation then have the right to object, resist or fight back?
and who would monitor and police all these altercations should they occur on a playing field as large as the world itself? who governs such interactions?
does size matter? Can a small nation not make as large an impact on world affairs? Do large nations have the responsibility to look after and care for the smaller nations? do smaller nations deserve assistance from other nations, or should they just be absorbed into larger entities?
What role should people, individuals, ordinary citizens, play in the steering of a nation? do ordinary people need to know alot about politics, economics and diplomacy to have valid concerns, opinions and feedback for their governments? wouldnt it be snotty of governments to turn around and ignore its populace because they are ignorant of the science of politics? who in fact would they be serving at that point? In fact, who would the Nation itself be serving if it ignored the requests, thoughts and concers of its people?
Nations, people, empires - they all rise and fall. History is the great equalizer. and although it is written by the victors, the pattern of history since time, is that it is entirely cyclical. Everything is interconnected. the rise of one power creates a sentiment that in 40 years, after incubating under a regime of terror or pain, explodes fully formed in a fiery birth of revolution to establish a new regime... which over time becomes corrupted until a new regime rises, yet again, under the leadership once again, of a tyrant.
But what is the soul of a country? Where does its spirit lie?
I do not know. But I would not want to be the nation which is known as being "soulless"
How do you measure the contribution of a country or nation peopled by diverse individuals who, even as a group, can't be lumped into one huge monolithic stereotype of nationhood?
And what is more important for a Nation - its contribution to the betterment of the plight of its people, or its contribution to the worldwide community of nations to which it belongs?
What truly governs a nation - the needs of the majority of those that rely on its protection and power? Or a collection of the chosen few with the money, connections, and clout who represent, ostensibly, the needs of the nameless, faceless masses on whose backs he/she stands?
Pedestals are precarious places to stand on. One small step in any direction and you are likely to fall off altogether.
If I were a nation, would I prefer to be known as the one who enriched the world with art, music, literature and dance? Or would I prefer to have the reputation as the "strong one", the "tough one", the "top of the food chain"? Would i prefer to have a poorer per capita income, but a healthier populace, both in body and spirit? Or would I prefer to make my focus entirely financial, regardless of the effects pursuing profit may have on my citizens?
How does a nation's personality develop? Are the leaders, who represent the epitome of Nationhood, the ones who create images and impressions that become known as personality traits of Nationals from that locale? Is it a perception fostered and bandied about by the community of nations in the world which makes a nation stereotyped as being a certain way? Can one international incident create such a strong perception as to change the way the world treats with said nation?
Do nations have rights as an entity? does one nation, notwithstanding the desires and needs of its citizens, have the right as a monolithic entitiy to impose ideas, ideals or beliefs on other nations? to not play nicely with others in the sandbox? to forcefully take what it feels it wants, or pressure another nation to give up something it holds dear on a whim? would that nation then have the right to object, resist or fight back?
and who would monitor and police all these altercations should they occur on a playing field as large as the world itself? who governs such interactions?
does size matter? Can a small nation not make as large an impact on world affairs? Do large nations have the responsibility to look after and care for the smaller nations? do smaller nations deserve assistance from other nations, or should they just be absorbed into larger entities?
What role should people, individuals, ordinary citizens, play in the steering of a nation? do ordinary people need to know alot about politics, economics and diplomacy to have valid concerns, opinions and feedback for their governments? wouldnt it be snotty of governments to turn around and ignore its populace because they are ignorant of the science of politics? who in fact would they be serving at that point? In fact, who would the Nation itself be serving if it ignored the requests, thoughts and concers of its people?
Nations, people, empires - they all rise and fall. History is the great equalizer. and although it is written by the victors, the pattern of history since time, is that it is entirely cyclical. Everything is interconnected. the rise of one power creates a sentiment that in 40 years, after incubating under a regime of terror or pain, explodes fully formed in a fiery birth of revolution to establish a new regime... which over time becomes corrupted until a new regime rises, yet again, under the leadership once again, of a tyrant.
But what is the soul of a country? Where does its spirit lie?
I do not know. But I would not want to be the nation which is known as being "soulless"
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