Jonathon Livingstone Seagull

[markearthling]

Jonathon Livingston Seagull

 

 

( A film that will lift your spirits and make your heart soar)

 

also recommended are the literary works of Richard Bach

 

on which the film is based. Music soundtrack by Neil Diamond.

 

 

Open up your mind and psyche

 

And dare to dream

 

Dare to be your true self

 

The person you were born and meant to be.

 

Is there anything the human spirit and mind

 

Cannot conceive of and achieve ?

 

 

Can we fly like the birds and soar like the eagle ?

 

An ancient dream of man is coming true

 

As we learn how and another limitation slips away.

 

Can we fly higher and further and faster than we

 

Ever have before ? Can we dive steeper and faster

 

With more control than we ever did ?

 

The dream is slowly coming true.

 

 

Will we fly to the planets and eventually the stars

 

Pursuing the mysteries of space, time and the universe

 

Conquering all before us and eventually the mystery

 

Of life and creation itself (substitute "evolution" if you feel the need).

 

 

How far and fast will we travel then ?

 

Through the einstein rosen bridge

 

Or faster than light like the legendary tachyon.

 

We already travel with the arrow of time forwards

 

Into the unknowable.

 

But will visits to the future be "knowable" then

 

How about the past ?

 

 

Will we conquer the many dimensions postulated

 

By the string theory and breach the boundaries

 

Of our own universal donut as postulated by

 

M theory ?

 

Will we travel to other universes in the multiverse

 

And finally perceive the meaning of Big Bang theory

 

And the "intelligent" creation of all that

 

Lays before us ?

 

Or discover chaos out of which flows order

 

Like a final fractal crystallization ?

 

 

Will we discover intelligent forces of design and creation

 

Or just forces and global structure ?

 

Will the macrocosm finally shrink into the microcosm

 

And will humanity finally transcend it's form

 

And longevity

 

Organizational and societal woes

 

Over many thousands or millions of years ?

 

 

The future lays before us

 

Will we embrace all it offers

 

Or shrink backwards from the challenge

 

When we now stand at the edge of the sea of knowledge

 

So much lays within our grasp

 

To fulfill us physically, intellectually and spiritually

 

To make for a better life and world (s)

 

For more open and productive collaboration

 

And communication as a species

 

We can only go forward if we progress

 

Especially beyond the bounds of greed

 

And monetary gain.

 

 

Our progress and success depends on many things

 

But we should not capitulate

 

To the snipers of group expectation and

 

Political correctness and dogma in any form

 

From any source.

 

 

We are all different and we should

 

Recognize our differences and biases

 

We should be open about them.

 

 

The future can be ours if we are prepared

 

To work

 

And embrace all that it offers

 

And to never lose our child like sense

 

Of wonder.

 

 

It's better to burn out than it is to rust. Neil Young

 

 

Any discussion/commentary welcome.

 

 

Edited June 18, 2011 by markearthling

[Ophiolite]

I think you have done Jonathon a disservice.

[markearthling]

Oh come now Ophiolite

 

I think he would have been quite an open minded seagull

( although I can't remember seeing his brains fall out

even after those terrifyingly steep dives).

 

This after all is general philosophy.

 

However if you are implying that I have overdone things

then I am willing to wear that criticism.

 

 

Open yourself up to possibility and let your heart

and mind soar.

 

By the way I recommend a viewing/reviewing of this terrific old

movie ( to all and sundry ) from 1973.

 

I just purchased a DVD copy but remember seeing it on TV way

back then.

 

It is truly an inspirational piece of theatrical art.

 

Also switched me back onto the music of Neil Diamond.

[Ophiolite]

mark,

if I have understood correctly, the bulk of the words in your OP are your thoughts as inspired by the book and film. My point is that they are, frankly, sufficiently trite, banal and disjointed as to turn most people away from exploring Jonathon more closely. I have fond memories of reading the book when it was first published and discussing it with groups of friends, in which I was -typically - the only one not as high as a kite on grass. Seriously, your comments, without establishing proper context, or offering explanatory commentary, really do a disservice to one of the Great Gulls.

[Marat]

Every cultural era and its iconography looks ridiculous once it is over, but the seventies -- perhaps because the ensuing cultural transformations were so diametrically opposed to the sevenities ideology -- seem particularly exotic and amusing. In a remarkably short span of historical evolution, we have gone from "Do your own thing," "Whatever gets you through the night," and "Let it all hang out," to "Get with the program!," "Good guys finish last!" "Get your ass in gear!" and "What a Loser!" 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and 'Hair' have had to make way for 'Mr. Gecko' and 'Top Gun.'

[michel123456]

Was that all quotes from Neil Diamond or Neil Young?

[markearthling]

michel123456

 

LOL ! Though I can see why you may have been a little confused about this.

I'm not sure if Jonathon and Neil Diamond know one another but maybe you could be right.

 

Ophiolite

 

I'm a little disappointed that you said I have only done a disservice to Jonathon

and not a GREAT disservice !

 

I agree, he is one of the great gulls of life.

 

I do think however, that you are being too hard on Jonathon.

He was a gull ahead of his time and he dreamed of breaking free

from the ordinary gullness of life and learning all he could

about new things and new capabilities.

 

He too was judged to be in breach of his groups expectations

and rules ( political correctness ) and was subjected to the

dogma of the group and expected to conform.

 

I must therefore insist upon recommending that all

members here investigate Jonathons' life and works

both immediately and fully ( see the movie again and it may

open your eyes).

 

The rodeo of life is like the show business stage.

There will always be snipers and hecklers to

knock our favourite artists off their pedestals.

 

So

watch

comprehend

learn

chill out

and enjoy

Life the Universe and Everything

 

?8O)}

 

p.s. Only lawn here ( high on life )

 

It's better to burn out than it is to rust. Neil Young

 

 

 

 

[pantheory]

markearthling,

 

Cool book fast-read 1970. Looking forward to the movie. Bet it will be good!