VMS -- Imaginations

["Dana F. Scott" <dfscott@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

One of the great wonders of our existence is that we have been endowed
with unique cognitive skills for imagination. We are able to stand back
and contemplate our exquisite existence. I for one feel very deeply
privileged, against fantastic odds, that I have been given this brief,
wonderful oportunity to experience life as we know it. We have come from
the depths of a seemingly infinite past and are bound to continue into
what may also be an endless future following our short visit here on
earth. While I have never seen the majestic dinosaurs roaming the earth,
there is sufficient evidence for me to accept and believe that they did
indeed once roam our earth. While I have never seen the microscopic
kidney stones that have passed from my kidney to my bladder, there is no
doubt whatsoever in my mind, body, and soul that they really and truly
existed. When my daughter asks me if extraterrestrials/aliens really
exist, I tell her with great confidence that they do indeed and that I
am looking at one, for if she were to visit another planet where there
were creatures whose shapes we can only guess at, then she would be the
alien, the extraterrestial on their planet. Would we really be that
cruel, scary, and destructive to creatures of another planet? What would
be the point? Hey, after a long trip like that, I would much prefer to
sit at the beach, have a nice tall one and watch the creatures go bye.
We all have imaginations. There is nothing wrong with our taking mental
license at times to imagine great possibilities. I actually like the
spiral depiction of our galaxy and really do see the similarity to the
referenced folio in the VMS; however, that doesn't necessarily mean that
I believe that the one corresponds directly to the other. You see,
humans are also endowed the ability and hopefully the freedom to choose.
Suggestions and ideas that are presented to us for consideration are
hopefully made without demands that they be accepted strictly as fact;
for it is not only a privilege of the presenter to suggest but it is
also correct for the audience to consider with a critical eye what is
being viewed. Whether the viewers choose to voice their opinions back to
the presenter and audience is their choice and, yes, there is certainly
a wide range of possible responses, not all of which will necessarily be
viewed as positive by the presenter. Here is where the emotions should
be set aside. This is one of the reasons the television has been so
successful. The performer presents and the audience responds and neither
party needs to be exposed to the other's criticism, though it is only
human nature to hope for a positive response. Now, if emotions flare up
and the presenter finds that he needs to aggressively defend his ideas,
then I would suggest that either he is not fully convinced of his own
ideas or that he needs to step back, take stock of his observations, and
then determine how best to present them again so that both he and the
audience have very little difficulty and excessive emotion in coming to
agreement and accepting these new ideas. We all start off by standing on
even ground and the line is drawn which separates the audience from the
stage. The balance of the scales may tip to one side or the other.
Hopefully, in the end, most of us will be pleased by what we see and
will be able to freely make the choice of whether or not we agree. Their
is no need for taking aggressive and defensive postures. While it does
excite us at times and has a tendency to get the adrenaline juices
flowing, in the end, it really isn't necessary. Let's get on with our
work, have a good time, try and keep our ideas within the realm of
reasonable posiblities, and move on.

Sincere Regards,
Dana