Is this statement true?
Ralph Waldo Emerson once asked what we would do if the stars only came out once every thousand years. No one would sleep that night, of course. The world would become religious overnight. We would be ecstatic, delirious, made rapturous by the glory of God. Instead the stars come out every night, and we watch television. --ecerpt from an article about Paul Hawken.
What are your thoughts of this statement? Is this true? Is there something wrong with this? What does it have to say about human nature? What are you doing to make sure that you are living your life to the fullest? Are there any of you who would stay inside anyways and watch television if what was stated was true? Any other comments are welcome.
Read the rest of the article at this link.
|
2
points
It most certainly speaks to all the beautiful things we take for granted each and every day. In general, also, we take things for granted. Our health, our longevity, our marriages, our jobs and relationships with others. We believe that it's all going to be there unless some sort of unforeseen disaster strikes! Can we not see the beauty of the world in that one scenario alone? I can. Look up and look around you on a daily basis...find things to smile about and you will! Side: Yes its true
I never thought about this before, but yes this is true. We become so used to the things around us in nature that eventually, we just take them for granted. I think this goes for anything and everything. You don't realize you miss something until you don't have it anymore. Side: Yes its true
1
point
Well, in my world, the stars only do come out every once in a while. Either because I can't see them from clouds or smog or blurry eyesight or because I'm rarely outside at night. But when I do feel at peace and I look up at them, they are truly beautiful. However, I do not understand the statement that if the above quote were true, people would become religious overnight, (as stated in the article). It might just be me, and I might have a problem, but reading that article made me feel like I was listening to a hippy- a religious hippy, mind you. And the problem is, it was annoying to read. I can see how a lot of people would read it and feel amazed at the beauty of it, but it just didn't work that way for me. Anyhow, to remind myself of the beauty of life, I basically, just, um... adjust my attitude. Bluntly put. Then suddenly everything is beautiful and life is wonderful. :-) Side: Yes its true
1
point
I was waiting for someone to speak onto that aspect. Remember that this is from the perspective of Emerson. And it was written in a different time and place, but this beauty can still apply today. Ponder this. If we never knew of the existence of stars and then all of a sudden they appeared one night, what do you think that would do? Side: Yes it's true
With my current brain, I, would assume something in space exploded into a million particles. What actually came to mind when you stated that, is, 'people see "flying saucers" here and there, and look what that has done.' Could it not be a similar example? Most people who've seen a sauce or believe in them and want to believe they've seen one, seek out others who've seen them, then they form cults (ok, not cults, but...groups), and come up with strange theories. Actually, I'm thinking, why'd they think of UFO's first? Was it because the sightings were after the Area 51 situation? Why aren't they thinking it's like, angles coming down to select a few people to take them to... God's world? Anyway, because I'm thinking along that line, I'm thinking that if stars came out all of a sudden and no one's seen them before, it'll cause mostly, a lot of puzzling theories. A planet blew up? Earth's atmosphere is deteriorating? God took a dump? Aliens are coming? Asteroids are coming? An Invasion! Ok, I'll stop. I got carried away. Trying to think... Side: Yes it's true
2
points
It's the point about the stars not being there and then making a one day appearance that gets to me. Living in such a secluded place for so long and now living in a city have me pondering this statement. They say that cities will continue to grow exponentially faster than small cities. If this is so, what happens to all the rural areas? What happens when we brighten the night skies to the point where we can no longer see the stars? If you look at pictures from the space station and satellites of the earth at night, you can tell where civilization exists. I need to think more about this statement, but it really has me thinking.... Side: Yes it's true
When we can no longer see the stars, that's when vacations become even more important. For instance, people usually take vacations to secluded places with no cities, clean atmosphere, plenty of night stars. So, I mean, when they take vacations, it may also become more of mental/spiritual/physical rejuvenation. Um, actually, that's what vacations usually are anyway. I don't know what I'm saying... I had a point in mind... lost it... Side: Yes it's true
1
point
Perhaps the statement is getting to you. ;) Maybe deep inside it's triggering something, lol. True, but vacations are just temporary. Why not just surround yourself with mental, spiritual, and physical rejuvenation all the time? I think that's what you'll see if you look deeper....like I said, I need to ponder this question further. Side: Yes it's true
That is a wonderful statement. And very true. It is true for most things. When I lived by the ocean, I got used to it, now I live in a desert and miss it. When I lived in the rain (WA) I missed the sun. Now I hide from it most of the time. But as for the rapturous awe, and the unknowing wonderment described, while an accurate description of likely human reaction, is actually not given them their due. None of the stories of the stars, whether they were gods or holes in the dome we lived in (yeah, that was a real theory), come even close to the reality, I think science gives us far more appreciation. Who would have imagined that many are billions of light years away? That some are so far away they are dead before a glimmer of light even reaches us? That there are so many of them? Next time you're on the beach, count the sand... no seriously, just for a few minutes to get an appreciation. On earth, there are between 10^21 and 10^24 grains of sand (that's the number ten, with that many zeros behind it) In our galaxy there are about 10^11 stars... There are around 10^10 galaxies... That's 10^11 multiplied by 10^10, or about 10^110, literally more stars than sand by a whole lot. Not to mention each is anywhere from about the size of venus, to nearly as large as our entire solar system. Or their power. Our very average sun lets off more energy than if we were to let off every nuke at the same time... that is every square inch of the sun lets off more energy than every nuke, every single second for around around 11 billion years. yeah, they're pretty damn cool. Side: Yes it's true
1
point
2
points
I like to take the family camping and sit around the fire and look at the stars and point at them with my green laser, sometimes try to blind a pilot with said laser... I also like to go in the jacuzzi at night and look at the stars. Sometimes I sleep on the couch next to the window and look out at the stars as i fall asleep. I always find that star gazing is a great opportunity for seeing a falling star and messing with the kids by telling them that the sky is falling but I think they're on to me by now ;) Side: Yes it's true
|
