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tinhuvielOn my way to work this evening, I looked out across the seeming abyss to behold the dots of light sparkling as far as the eye could see. It was almost like space had descended and the stars twinkled at ground level. Then I began to ponder humanity's longtime relationship with darkness. Why do most humans fear it? Why do we long for light when Nature tells us it's time for the spaces between the stars to dwell among us for a few hours each day?
I wonder what would happen if all the lights went out and humanity had only the starlight to comfort us. Would there be any comfort after decades of staving off the darkness with our artificial security? I think that much chaos and mayhem would ensue for awhile. There would be many terrible reasons to fear the dark.....well...not the dark, necessarily, but the things that would hide therein. Eventually perhaps, humans would turn our eyes skyward and see the stars for the very first time.
We miss so many stars because of the light shining down here on the ground. City dwellers see fewer than we country folk or even the suburbanites. What have we sacrificed for the fragile security we now possess?
Can anyone imagine what a truly silent night would be? No cars, no electrical buzzing, no sounds of man-made folly. Just us, our fellow earthlings, and the crystalline star song that's been inaudible for so long. After the horrors of having lost our fires, the ones who are left would find joy once more in the soft light of stars.
I wonder what would happen if all the lights went out and humanity had only the starlight to comfort us. Would there be any comfort after decades of staving off the darkness with our artificial security? I think that much chaos and mayhem would ensue for awhile. There would be many terrible reasons to fear the dark.....well...not the dark, necessarily, but the things that would hide therein. Eventually perhaps, humans would turn our eyes skyward and see the stars for the very first time.
We miss so many stars because of the light shining down here on the ground. City dwellers see fewer than we country folk or even the suburbanites. What have we sacrificed for the fragile security we now possess?
Can anyone imagine what a truly silent night would be? No cars, no electrical buzzing, no sounds of man-made folly. Just us, our fellow earthlings, and the crystalline star song that's been inaudible for so long. After the horrors of having lost our fires, the ones who are left would find joy once more in the soft light of stars.
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Date: 2003-12-20 03:44 am (UTC)They can't cope with it. They've never known darkness, and people go insane. The whole of civilisation breaks down, and only a few people are left with their facalties intact.
It's incredibly annoying that I can't think of the name of this book. It will probably pop into my head sometime today, and I'll come back and post it here.
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Date: 2003-12-20 10:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-12-20 01:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-12-20 01:58 pm (UTC)The closest I have come to a silent night was when JT and I were in Yellowstone Park about 4 years ago. We were driving from one part to another after dark. We stopped and got out of the car. The sky was absolutely amazing - filled with stars - and there was nobody else around, so it was silent. Awesome!