What Makes Being Human Significant?

This is a mild break from the regular format. Rather than purging my ideological ramblings, I'd like to get some feedback from you lot. What do you like about being human? What makes life as a human worth the trouble? Here in the states, in spite of our current situation, we are allowed access to a great many wonderful things about being human.

If that seems vague, I'll share a few off the top of my noggin in no particular order:

• Love (Romantic, Friendly, Family, Etc.)
• Relationships (Building a Story Together, Being a Part of Something)
• Art, Music, Delicious Food
• Hot Tea
• Thinking, Philosophy
  
• Spirituality (Regardless of Origin)
• Eureka! Moments
• Observing & Interacting with Other Species (Dog, Fish, Plants, Nature)
• Enjoyment of Sex (Very few species do!)
• Learning, Discovery
• Creating Art, Music, Food, Etc.
• Having Fun! Celebrations!
• Helping Those in Need
• Hugs!
• Kisses!
• A Feeling of Freedom and Liberty
  

There is just so much more to list, but it's a start. If you're wondering where this is going, I'll tell you. I have an infant theory beginning to bubble. So far, it's something like this:

If we can figure out what it means to be human, what makes it special, what makes it joyous, what makes it "worth it", then we can devise a method of living that exemplifies these vitals. It will guide us in prioritizing problems, etc.

So often, we focus on the negative, what bugs us (for which I'm completely guilty). How about rather than thinking about what we don't want people doing, we focus on things everyone should be able to enjoy?

So, what's your list?

Belief, Fact & Authority

Questions:

• How do we distinguish facts?
• What is our criterion for placing authority?
• Is faith and belief necessary?
• This sounds dull, will it be?

When I was an infant
I saw mother and I saw father
And they were my deities

When I was a boy
I saw priest and I saw president
And they were my devils

When I became man
I saw quark and I saw cosmos
And they were my undoing

What the hell? Sorry, folks, that poetry fart jumped out of nowheres. Nowheres, I tells ya! It sounds really pretentious don’t it? Sounds familiar too, hope I didn’t just plagiarize. Perhaps it’s just an overused formula.

In my defense, I was just sitting here figuring out how to start this entry. I was going to tell a story about origins of belief and authority. I was going to tell my story. So, I began with, “When I was an infant” and sometime between then and now it became a little poetry turd. Fortunately, it feels pretty representational, so I’m staying with it.

In this entry, I’m going to try and arrange elements which, I feel, form a core aspect of my outlook. First, I’m afraid we’re going to have to discuss our senses to start building this from the ground up.

Part 1: The Senses

So, when I was an infant (hah!), before I had science to tell me what my senses were doing, I experienced my senses pretty intensely. It must have been the craziest multimedia light-show ever. Now with smell AND touch! Dig that soundtrack!

I wish I could remember the moment I was first put in a nice soft, cozy blanket. That had to be so intensely soft and cozy. It’s no wonder I love sleeping in as an adult. Yay for naps!

So, then at some point, in my growth from diapers to mustache wax, someone told me a story. They told me a fantastic tale of how my senses worked! They told me there was a spectrum of light that I couldn’t see. They said there are frequencies I couldn’t hear. In other words, there was a whole mess of shit going on beyond the world of my senses. My senses didn’t tell the whole story. They were filters for my experience of this existence.

Thus, I took this view point. I accepted that my experience of existence was limited. It is, of course, important to note that this may be a mistake. Perhaps I’ve been lied to, but until I reenact all the experiments that support this line of thought (no current plans to do so), I cannot really confirm or deny it.

So, why do I take this viewpoint?

I suppose it’s because it’s the most convincing story I’ve heard so far for this phenomena. We could argue forever about why I perceive this as more convincing. Perhaps, a pan dropped on my head as a child, which dented my brain, which shifted the focus of neural connections, which strengthened the area of my brain which would someday be the area that deals with this subject matter. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. I’m still a battered human with these ideological leanings. Allow me to lean a little further.

Part 2: Facts & Knowing

If I accept that I don’t have the whole story because of my filters (you might include the brain in that group), then I must admit that I don’t “know” anything for certain. It’s like I’m watching a movie. I can see what’s taking place in the picture frame and I can infer what is happening as a whole. I may feel like I “know” who the killer is. I can sort it all out, but the real killer may still be just outside the picture frame.

This realization means I can only make mildly educated guesses about life’s phenomena. I can only infer from the available evidence, via the senses, which we’re holding to be limited. One might even say “flawed”. Thinking this, I feel obliged to look at other humans in the same way. They’re just as limited and flawed, fundamentally.

Thusly, if I’m inferring that other humans have the same basic set of limited-range inputs (senses), I conclude that others don’t “know” anything either. Isn’t that convenient?

Aside: Now, by pointing out that we “know” nothing, am I then saying that we should throw out all our “knowledge”? Give up? Go have a beer? No. We humans have indeed done marvelous things by inferring underling patterns from our limited data set.

Obviously, this inquisitive and creative way of getting acquainted with life’s mysteries is highly valuable within the realm of humans. We can use these observations to predict events (to a degree), manipulate our surroundings to suit our needs and all sorts of fun/useful stuff (art!).

What I’m trying to get at, is that when we get caught up with hubris, I feel it’s a good idea to take a step back and get the big picture. We are very small, very mortal and very limited.

Humility. Plain and simple. I think it helps ground a person and helps us from getting overzealous. If you ever need some humility, take a gander at some photos of space. You’ll feel small and stupid in an instant.

So, in the grand scheme, there are no facts. A fact is an abstract concept that we have mistaken for the truth (another “unknowable”). I am then compelled to conclude that all ideas whether scientific, religious, philosophical or other are essentially equal in probability. Now, we have a convention of holding an idea on which the majority agrees to be more valid than a less popular idea. In general, this tends to work out pretty well because though we are limited individually, the combined viewpoints and observations of a mass of individuals gets us a great deal further to getting the whole picture.

Let’s go back to our movie analogy for a moment. Previously, we had one camera, one viewpoint. If we had ten cameras all filming the same event, our understanding of the event rises considerably. One or more of us might actually see the killer pull the trigger though our lens.

There are however still limitations to ten observers, or even a million. None of the observers will know what the killer or the victim is thinking. So, while we may have caught the killer red handed, we can still only infer a motive. No matter how hard we try, the human collective can never seem to get the whole story. Further more, how can we as individuals trust other observers are speaking truthfully? Even if they are, how can we be certain that the angle to which they observed provided the right evidence? Perhaps their lens is defective. Who do we hold as the expert?

Part 3: Authority

There was a time, allegedly, when all the top “authorities” on the subject “knew” that Earth was the center of the universe. Then some folks came along and said, “Nope, nope. Wait. We figured it out. The SUN is the center! Just watch through our telescope (another filter), see how we revolve around it?”

These days, we consider ourselves and our solar system nowhere near the center (depending on what you call the center). Perhaps tomorrow we’ve think differently. Who knows?

So, if past authorities have been wrong, how can we decipher if who we hold as our current authorities are correct now? I myself, with all honesty, cannot.

I think a better, more useful question to ask is who decides who is the authority?

When I was an infant (oh dear), my parents were my authorities. More than that, they were my world. Then I started grade school and some of that authority was transferred to my teachers and my principle. My priest was granted authority over spiritual matters, who resigned the supreme authority to Yahweh. My government was granted authority over social and other matters. As I aged, I started wondering, “Who gave these people dominion over me?”

Naturally, I felt quite foolish when I when I found out. It was me!

Egg square on face.

Some might argue that I was tricked into giving it up. In the end, I can only blame myself for any misplaced authority. It was I who bowed in submission to mother, father, teacher, priest, god and government. Naturally, placing authority to a degree is vital and beneficial.

For example, by giving submission to my parents, they showed me how to love, taught me valuable skills as person and infinitely more. I not only imparted authority to them, I gave them the responsibility of taking care of me. This turned out to be an immense benefit for which I’m forever grateful. Lucky for me, my parents had my best interests at heart. Placing authority in them was a top-notch idea! What a smart baby I was!

Religion was another story. While again, I’m grateful for the experience of being raised Catholic (it shaped me also), I no longer place religious authority in the church. As I began questioning my beliefs (around 18), I soon found that these guys knew no more about god than I did. They were all just passing down a rumor in which they had placed authority. Very few, seemed to have actual experience with god. It was then that I decided to remove that authority and place it back to where I felt it ultimately belongs.

Me.

There is much I’d like to say about authority regarding religion, science and government, but this starting to become a tangent, so let’s get back on track. Perhaps, all these ideas are coming together. I now take for granted that no one person has the full story and that I am in control of who I grant authority. This is extremely empowering yet humbling at the same time. A contradiction to be sure, but then again I’ve always been one. There is, however, one last bit of this particular puzzle I’d like to address: faith.

Part 4: Faith, Belief and All the Rest

I’m not necessarily talking about religious faith, but that is one of facets to which this pertains. I think we underestimate just how much faith we show on a daily basis and just how vital it is in human life. In my personal dogma of the moment, the absence of perceivable facts and the arbitrary nature of authority, points to conclusion that all our beliefs (religious, scientific, etc.) are indeed equally signs of faith. Faith placed in priests. Faith placed in scientists. Faith placed in elected officials. Faith placed in your fellow humans. They say faith moves mountains. Belief is even stronger.

Belief makes things happen. It was a belief that a better life was possible which gave a new world colony the balls to secede from a king across the pond. It was belief in engineering that made skyscrapers rise. A few individuals believed one day, humans would fly and that belief turned into dedication which gave way to the fruition of that belief. It is belief that drives us. It quite literally makes our world.

Like most things in life, there is a downside. Belief also has been behind countless acts of religious-based violence. A belief that Africans were subhuman gave way to the disgusting enslavement of an entire race. A belief in WMDs got us into a war we can’t seem to find our way out of.

Like fire, belief can light the way. Kept unchecked, it can scorch us to the core.

Part 5: End It Already!

My hope is that these keystones of my outlook effectively balance me. Like Gautama Buddha, to whom I’ve allowed some religious authority, I try to follow the middle path. Mostly, I’d like people “realize” that we’re all scoundrels, all flawed and let there be honor among thieves. I hope that with self-empowerment; though authority in one’s self, yet hewn with humility, will help grow a world more peaceful, more fulfilling and more joyous to live in. If belief made us fly, let’s believe we can soar.

Disclaimer:
The obvious disclaimer is that in “fact”, I “know” none of this to be true. That’s ok by me.

Why I Rant

Questions:

• What’s my deal?
• Why do I continually complain?
• Why is I so durn “Un-American”?
• Why can’t I just suck it up and fall in line?

Well, while no one else on the net bothers to visit me, slowly I am making this blog known to family and friends. In fact, I just now decided to take the plunge and send my Mum a link. Scarey, huh?

So, it occurred to me that, out of context, these posts may sound subversive and “Un-American”. While normally these observations and accusations (though incorrect) don’t bother me in the slightest (I even indulge them playfully at times), as this blog is about getting at “the real stuff of me”, I feel compelled to add some context. So, Mum, this post is for you:

First off, I don’t hate America. I don’t particularly take to hating anyone. I happen to like who I am, and I would be foolish to negate the vast influence of living in America has had on me. This country has afforded me great opportunities and I’m forever grateful. Positive and negative, it has all shaped me.

I am, however, very disgruntled with our government and its distrust of citizens. In this, I’m not specifically referring to Iraq; I see that as a symptom of a larger issue. Even Bush himself is a mere symptom. It came before Bush and before his father.

For this, I’m reminded of the American Revolution and the spirit and philosophies that helped it come to pass (Note to Self: Get reacquainted with John Locke). In a nutshell, I feel that the significance is less the independence from Britain but more on personal liberty and the absurd idea that one man should rule another. When we think of “We the People”, it’s a strong statement that places authority in each of us and trusts the people to create a society that they wish to live in. We are our own rulers and government should be social contract rather than a list of laws handed down from a crown.

One of the main problems, as I see it, is that we’ve lost or let go of this inspired American spirit for the comfort of perceived security. I feel that modern politicians are acting more like rulers and less like public servants. In short, I feel like our modern government doesn’t trust me enough to make my own decisions. I’m a “grown-ass man”, for crying out loud and I don’t need or want a babysitter. Thanks, but no thanks.

I’d like to quote Henry David Thoreau, someone who influenced me greatly as an adolescent and someone who I’m thankfully re-discovering these days (due to my wife):

“Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience, then?”

If I were to distill my personal government philosophy regarding these things it would be something like as follows:

“What I (as a consenting adult) do is my business and no one else’s, until it infringes on another citizen’s rights.”

Or to put more coarsely, don’t mess with my shit and I won’t mess with yours. I find it a great guide in sorting out what “political” issues need politicizing and which don’t. Gay marriage doesn’t infringe on my liberties in any conceivable way and I think those that make a huff about it are mostly expressing their personal distaste through the guise of “protecting the sanctity of marriage”. If that was the real goal, there are far more heterosexuals tarnishing the good name of marriage than there are homosexuals. Focus on them, Bush. More on this later.

The grand point of this whole thing is that I’m not trying to overthrow or destroy America. I want America to return to its infant spirit and to be introspective, innovative and inclusive. We evolve technology and other aspects of being human at a rapid pace, why do we not evolve our government?

I want us, as citizens, as people and as neighbors to take a long hard look at the way we do things from the ground up. How do we want to live? Let’s renew our dedication to individual liberty and let’s help grow a country and a world where everyone counts, where we “get over ourselves” and show a true respect for our fellow humans.

It is in this context that I critique and attack aspects of American life. I’m not looking to tear us down I want to help grow us up.

In closing, please don’t lock me up, I mean no harm.

The Takers

Here's a quickie.

I had to fly to L.A. recently (unfortunately), and I was awestruck at what WE did:


Zoom out, cause it's a mind fuck:


Keep going...



It made the idea of humanity as a virus hit home unlike it had before when just a concept. I mean, what kind of fool takes the elegant, graceful, exquisite, marvelous, dumbfounding intricacy and asymmetrically beauty of...




...and turns it into a fucking grid?

It bothers me that the patterns we humans make seem alien and completely unlike anything I see in "nature". Why are humans so damn weird? We must be like a bad rash our earth got when consorting with unsavory types. So, perhaps we're the destroyers. We hate to think it, but really and truly, the advancement and encroachment of humanity serves only to help humans. For everyone else, humanity only makes things worse. For everyone else, humanity is the four horsemen.

I think it's funny how we go to the movies to be scared silly of a parasitic alien invasion where the aliens travel from one planet to another. They suck it dry, leaving a dead husk and move on to the next planet. Wow! Those guys are assholes!



I'll avoid stating my, now obvious, conclusion from this idea. Or did I?

BUT

Wow. That's a big but.

I've made an artificial distinction between humanity and nature. We like to do that as humans but we and everything we do is part and parcel of nature. So, how can we act unnaturally? How can we do something not in our nature?



Can someone out there answer these...

Questions:

• Are we the destroyers?
• Can a human actually act contrary to his/her nature?
• Why are our patterns so weird?
• Why are we obsessed over lines, squares and circles?
• Why not spirals?
• Why do we consume the earth so rapidly?
• Can we stop?
• Should we?
• Why doesn't this kind of stuff bother most people?