I originally wrote a different post, but I threw it away…

I went to the Neil deGrasse Tyson lecture this evening. I went with a friend and I was grateful to go because one it was sold out and two because I love the show Cosmos. I had some idea of what his lecture was going to focus on. However, sitting there realization hit me that I really did not have a clue what the focus of lecture was going to be. He just did not just focus on science, but history, culture, and the environment. How it all connects and helps or hinders each other. It was an amazing lecture, but it became beautiful when he talked about the universe and how really small and insignificant Earth really is. He called Earth, like Carl Sagan, the pale blue dot, and he quoted Sagan’s Pale Blue Dot soliloquy. He, like Sagan, explained, “The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot.” And because of this violence towards others and ourselves clouds our minds and perspective that in the universe, Earth is just this fraction of a dot. Our lives, existence, and stupid problems are insignificant and petty compare to the universe. The universe will exist, if we cease to exist. I take comfort that we are tiny, it makes me feel that there is some purpose to life.

So, how does this beautiful lecture relate to Browell’s book, the other works, and games in general? Well, to some there is nothing similar, games are structured, have rules, and to some mindless self-indulgences. However, I think there are similarities, or maybe beyond similarities. I think subconsciously because we humans, like Earth, are not significant or important for the survival of the universe, we try to make or find significance. We try to find a purpose or reason for existence, and that is where sports come in. The medals, the competition, the pomp, the pride are all ways of making not only that person but a nation feel significant. Feel like they are important and that their competition, let alone the universe, does not matter. They are powerful, they won, and they are important. However, they know that feeling will not last, so countries like the US, China, and Germany, and numerous other countries, keep fighting for that glory at the expense of their players. The fear of being forgotten or insignificant, plus other fearful tactics like greed, death, and ego, fuel this fire for continuous competition in sports. However, I think the realization that we are all on this blue dot and our destruction does not hinder the universe is not horrible or scary. It is rather refreshing. If we all just realize this fact, realize that pettiness, and anger that this competitions create are just ridiculous. We are small and our life is short, why waste it on a medal or glory that is easily given away and replaced.

Sorry I rambled a lot…. and it does not make sense..

Image:

I really liked image 22.1 in the Art of Contest.

I just love that is rustic and chaotic. It is absolutely beautiful, in the look of horses and of the men. The horses are dirty and wild, the men are working and not polished for the sake of photograph. They do not look how polo players or equestrians, wearing white or their riding outfits, galloping on a field or competing with others, while the wealthy watch in awe and splendor. These men are working and playing and might be having a good time, or at least feel free.