Aug 19 2008
‘The Worlds A Changin’
A while ago I visited the Royal Tyrell Museum with a couple of friends. While there I stumbled upon something that made me think and I felt it would be appropriate to share it with you here.
In relevance to the lifeboat or spaceship analogy I have spoken of in the past I came across a display explaining the different shapes of the continents of the past present and future. I took some pictures and they follow:
The first image, all of which you can click on to download the file, represents the earth a very long time ago about when star wars was set! The second image represents the present earth and hopefully looks familiar to most of you. The third image is the possible future earth quite a while in the future.
What I wanted to bring into question and bring to contemplation was our idea and concept of coutries and continents set in stone (pun intended).
When we go about our daily lives issues of the nature of the changing globe, due to its miniscule nature, may not be that important. However I think it is simply an interesting concept to place in mind.
What happens when a Canadian store is moved over the border into the states through an earthquake? Who owns it? Does it change the owners rights?
A common observation made by astronauts is that seeing the earth externally makes them forget about borders. Relevance could be made of this point. A mediator is used to ensure fairness between two parties. They are valuable because they are impartial, because they are separate from the situation.
I don’t mean to advance any point although I have started already. I just wanted to put these questions out there to think about.
What do you think?
3 Responses to “‘The Worlds A Changin’”
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I do not ponder this issue all the time but I do feel our world is changing as we speak and will continue to do as it has in the past. Great topic by the way.
“What happens when a Canadian store is moved over the border into the states through an earthquake? Who owns it? Does it change the owners rights?”
What makes it a “Canadian Store?” Who “owns” it now? Does anybody? Or is it just a thing that people claim as “mine?” I think what you did a great job of here Nate is point out how arbitrary both our borders and laws are, as well as call attention to the fact that identification with anything physical (borders, stores, money) really makes no sense. I’m not saying this identification is a bad thing though. One of the greatest feelings I inspire within myself is that of a proud Canadian. I love this country, and I consider part of it to be mine. But the realization that a meteor could hit us and destroy the whole bloody place, or knock a chunk out at least, does not worry me. I would still be the same person without Canada, so why should Canada’s demise affect my state of being? If you consider “things” to be “mine,” you will feel bad if that thing gets taken away. If it is just a thing to enjoy, you won’t mind as much when it is gone. Just like a border/continent. You’ve pointed out that they are moving, changing shape, coming together, and splitting apart. So really, what even defines “our country?”
I don’t really know exactly what I finished up trying to say there, but whatever.
wtf? So ur sayin ud be the same person if for instance Canada didn’t exist anymore and everything got taken away from you?! That’s impressive!
I’m pretty sure the psychological aspect of ownership is a large part of most ppls personality, whether they like it(or like to admit it) or not.