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Chris, You're right. We go down a dangerous road when we start taking =
parables or fables literally, as we would if we objected to the illogic =
and (in a sense) unreliability in metaphors and similes, which are such =
bedrocks of our thought and speech, including scientific thought and =
speech. "She ran like the wind." "No, she couldn't--the wind doesn't =
run." "He drank like a fish." "How could he? -- fish don't drink." =
"You're as crazy as a loon. "No, I'm not, because loons aren't insane."
cheers, Brian
From: Christopher Majka=20
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2012 1:05 AM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] re star-thrower story -- moral??
Hi folks,=20
Both The Star Thrower story and the Militaw story (today I heard from =
someone who had heard the latter story from a Haida Gwaii lady) are =
intended to serve as parables, not scientific treatises. In allegorical =
fashion they make the point that it is worthwhile for each one of us to =
do what we can, to make a contribution. If everyone pitches in, great =
things can be achieved. We shouldn't be dissuaded from action because it =
seems daunting.
No one imagines that such parables are literally true (talking animals, =
a hummingbird attempting to put out a forest fire). Parables are =
effective because the convey a point that moves people. Better examples =
aren't required because these are fables not literal accounts. Even =
Eisley's original story is not a scientific narrative, but a poetical =
account, in which he writes:
"On a point of land, I found the star thrower...I spoke once briefly. "I =
understand," I said. "Call me another thrower." Only then I allowed =
myself to think, He is not alone any longer. After us, there will be =
others...We were part of the rainbow...Perhaps far outward on the rim of =
space a genuine star was similarly seized and flung...For a moment, we =
cast on an infinite beach together beside an unknown hurler of suns... =
We had lost our way, I thought, but we had kept, some of us, the memory =
of the perfect circle of compassion from life to death and back to life =
again - the completion of the rainbow of existence."
Reflect on Tuma's earlier observation: "Some folks can only feed the =
birds. Some can educate others about the use of lead in bullets and =
sinkers and how this affects the Eagles. Some can help by lobbing =
politicians. Others can donate money or support whatever way they can. =
Do what you can to help."
Cheers,
Chris
On 13-Jan-12, at 11:27 PM, Brian Bartlett wrote:
The radically "abridged" version of the Eisley event almost reads like =
an Aesop's fable rather than an account to be taken as scientifically =
grounded, but I can see why Jim is bothered by the idea of thoughtlessly =
and needlessly tossing star-fish around. Maybe the First Nations tale =
retold by Tuma, about the talking hummingbird that tried to put out a =
forest fire, is more helpful here, because it's so obviously a symbolic =
or visionary fantasy and nobody is going to read it literally in the way =
they would a scientific treatise or even a personal memoir.
Brian
From: David & Alison Webster
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 9:37 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] re star-thrower story -- moral??
Hi Jim & All, Jan 13, 2012
I agree Jim, if I understand what you are saying.
In real life, so far as I know, starfish will not become stranded =
above low-low tide, except perhaps by very unlikely mechanisms; a tidal =
wave which I suppose might sweep them inland, a very severe storm that =
rolled starfish, rock, mussels and byssus threads into a bundle among =
other wrack or an earthquake that abruptly raised a section of beach.
But this discussion has perhaps become too serious. If you search =
for it, you can find a quote to justify any action. For example, as =
explained in a recent issue of National Geographic, one early edition of =
the King James Bible omitted a key word from one of the 10 commandments =
so that it read "Thou shalt commit adultery.". Presumably this gave rise =
to the expression "Praise the Lord".
Yt DW, Kentville
----- Original Message -----
From: James W. Wolford
To: NatureNS
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 5:59 PM
Subject: [NatureNS] re star-thrower story -- moral??
I am having problems with this whole discussion, because of the =
evolutionary adaptations of intertidal organisms like these starfishes =
-- I can visualize like-minded people who see barnacles "stranded" =
during low tides wanting to use backhoes to get them back into the =
water. I of course love the point that I think Helene is getting at, =
that one or a few who are doing tiny amounts of some activity whose =
effect is very little are setting examples for potential followers to =
act in concert, but let's find a better example?=20
Cheers from Jim in Wolfville.
Begin forwarded message:
From: Helene Van Doninck <helene.birdvet@gmail.com>
Date: January 13, 2012 4:30:57 PM AST
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Loren Eiseley
Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
The starfish story is pretty much my daily mantra, and has been =
for years. I talk about it to people who think I'm crazy for helping =
common species. They all matter, at least to me.
Helene
On Jan 13, 2012 2:32 PM, "Brian Bartlett" <bbartlett@eastlink.ca> =
wrote:
Eiseley was a genius of an essayist, memoirist, and nature =
writer. The Immense Journey, The Night Country, The Unexpected Universe, =
All The Strange Hours -- a few of his most memorable books. The Star =
Thrower, which Chris mentions, provided the title for a selection of =
Eiseley's writing. But Chris, I'm a bit confused, because "The Star =
Thrower" is a 25-page personal essay in the book The Unexpected =
Universe, and it doesn't contain the passage you quote below. Did you =
find that on-line somewhere?
Brian
From: Christopher Majka
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 1:34 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Vogel-the Common Gallinule/ native story
Hi Tuma and Dusan,
Tuma's story of Militaw reminds me of The Star Thrower, a story =
written<ir.gif> by anthropologist Loren Eisley (1907-1977). Apparently =
it was a true story in which Eisley himself was the "elderly gentleman". =
;~>
Cheers!
Chris
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The Star Thrower
by Loren Eisley=20
While walking along a beach, an elderly gen