A Significantly New Perspective (SSR)

Day by day, hour by hour, we live consumed by our daily routines and worries. To each individual, we believe our lives posses a great significance; however, how often is it that we realize what minuscule lives we truly live? Take into consideration the boundless infinity of the universe. In comparison to the farthest point of the universe currently known to man, the light emitted from Earth does not even register, and is lost in the sea of galaxies and constellations. Carl Sagan, a famous astronomer and astrophysicist, once described the earth as,"A Pale Blue Dot" and continued with an description of the phenomenon of the universe. (Sagan's Pale Blue Dot speech is in the video below)

When put into perspective, the way society has evolved is incredible, yet humbling. Sagan describes how, "everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was" has lived their life here on Earth; a statement so simple, however in context of the universe, is astonishing. Think of all the planets, all the galaxies man is oblivious to, yet we are confined to the human race as the only known intelligent species. To us, this is it. We are all each other has. Yet, even with this knowledge in mind, we choose to exert hatred and violence on to each other in order to,"become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot." With this description of fame, Sagan prompts us to ask ourselves, is it truly worth it? Is it truly worth it to take the only civilization we have, the one we created, and destroy it? Is it truly worth it for humans to pit themselves against other humans in order to obtain power? Fame and domination are only temporary. Individuals fight, inducing permanent consequences, in order to gain a title that is simply an illusion of our society. Outside of Earth, this title is insignificant. Other than the individuals on Earth, no being will acknowledge the existence of a "great leader" who fought and killed other humans to deem themselves significant. We must shift our perspectives off ourselves and focus on the collective prosperity of society. In order to succeed, it's necessary to learn to consolidate.

Sagan urges the human race to recognize,"our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another." Again, the only beings we have to reconcile with are other humans. This being, it is necessary we understand how to succeed together, rather than succeed against each other. Let us work to be more understanding, more generous, more forgiving. We each receive one chance to live our lives on Earth, so why not offer the highest consideration possible to each other? With the obligation of compassion in mind, we may move forward as a productive society that produces a unified significance, opposed to individual significance on this pale blue dot we call home.