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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: J. C. Dithers who wrote (52624)	7/7/2002 10:43:58 PM
From: epicure	Respond to of 82486

I wonder if animals aren't thrilled too. I would swear our siamese used to thrill to the smell and taste of tuna- more than I do to the sight of the Grand Canyon even. I don't think she just accepted it for what it was- that was how she treated the dry food.

To: J. C. Dithers who wrote (52624)	7/7/2002 11:06:11 PM
From: Lane3	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

I don't watch the Animal channel enough. Glad you mentioned that. It wasn't the Animal Channel. I said the Discovery Channel, but it wasn't that, either. It was the Learning Channel. Just in case anyone reading this is actually looking for the show. I've done a fair amount of diving. Wonderful sensation, that. Unique. Shame to miss it. You might want to give it a try. Or there are some lovely reefs on which you can snorkel. The only thing that I have never done that I always wanted to do and which I will not be able to do now is learn to fly a glider. I've flown in them a few times and that was awesome, too. But I never lived near a suitable school at a time in my life when I could have done that. Closest I got was a hang glider, which was too strenuous to really be fun. As for awe, I'm just glad to experience it. I am less concerned than you about why. Awe is still awe, whether it comes from God or electrons. I've had a similar discussion with Neo a few times. I don't know why you guys find dancing electrons such a depressing prospect. In a way, if we have these experiences not by design but by happy accident, well, serendipity is a wondrous thing, as well, maybe even more thrilling for having been an accident.

To: J. C. Dithers who wrote (52624)	7/8/2002 3:26:06 PM
From: Solon	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 82486

"Do you suppose that all of these thrills and sensations that elevate our spirit are mere matters of genes and neurons doing their thing" Why reduce the grandeur of your feeling and appreciation to such terms. What we are when dead or disected...this is not what matters. It is what we are in our best living humanity which counts. It is not a question of losing those grand qualities simply because we disagree on how we were built, or if there was or is a greater "WHY". Here is a paper which I really like. I do not need to agree with every suggestion of the writer in order to appreciate his views, and to identify with much of the sentiment. All the marvellous pinnacles of human deed and feeling may be understood and honored as reflecting the very real range and nature of humankind. It does not need a mystical explanation any more than the ferocity of a weasel requires a divine rationale. Please do not think that an agnostic or atheist stance is opposed to the private and gentle search for "God" or profound experience. There would be no rational reason for such opposition. Most of us simply wish political power or influence to be absolutely separated from anyone claiming a moral and social authority which may only be justified by force--not reason. cosmopolis.com