They Didn’t Know
According to the movie Oppenheimer
Based on the book “American Prometheus”
The group of atomic scientists
Working on the Manhattan Project
Did not know if their explosive device
Would continue in a chain reaction
Triggering subsequent atoms to explode
In a never-ending cosmic annihilation
But in their quest to build a best big stick
Ventured to proceed at all derelict cost
Forsaking humanity as a human expense
To “win” a war that was almost over
“Let’s just think about this for a minute”
– Bill Hicks
They didn’t know
They didn’t know
They didn’t know
What if instead that same concentrated effort
Were applied even today (it is still possible)
To make sure all are housed, healthy, and fed
To secretly organize the distribution of food
Quietly construct affordable housing
Educate those with a desire to learn
With absolutely no chance in that effort
Would anyone’s existence would be extinguished
“It is now highly feasible to take care of everybody on Earth at a higher standard of living than any have ever known. It no longer has to be you or me. Selfishness is unnecessary. War is obsolete. It is a matter of converting high technology from weaponry to livingry.”
Buckminster Fuller
“Here’s what we can do to change the world, right now, to a better ride. Take all that money we spend on weapons and defenses each year and instead spend it feeding and clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would pay for many times over, not one human being excluded, and we could explore space, together, both inner and outer, forever, in peace.”
Bill Hicks
“Territories”
“I see the Middle Kingdom
Between Heaven and Earth
Like the Chinese call
The country of their birth
We all figure that our homes
Are set above
Other people than the ones
We know and love
In every place with a name
They play the same territorial game
Hiding behind the lines
Sending up warning signs
The whole wide world
An endless universe
Yet we keep looking through
The eyeglass in reverse
Don’t feed the people
But we feed the machines
Can’t really feel
What international means
In different circles,
We keep holding our ground
Indifferent circles,
We keep spinning round and round
We see so many tribes
Overrun and undermined
While their invaders dream
Of lands they’ve left behind
Better people… better food…
And better beer…
Why move around the world
When Eden was so near?
The bosses get talking so tough
And if that wasn’t evil enough
We get the drunken and passionate pride
Of the citizens along for the ride
They shoot without shame
In the name of a piece of dirt
For a change of accent
Or the color of your shirt
Better the pride that resides
In a citizen of the world
Than the pride that divides
When a colorful rag is unfurled”
– Rush
“Yet we keep looking through
The eyeglass in reverse
Don’t feed the people
But we feed the machines”
“Just an observation,
Maybe I need
Different glasses.”
– Angelo Devlin
Looking at the world through a windshield. 
Great insights! There is no one who knows. We know collectively as best we can. So, why do we even project that “Others” should or must know? They’re doing the best they can to know things just as we are. They take chances just as we do. It’s all an experiment. We try things out, we blow things up, we make the leap … and then see what happens. Then we “know.” It’s the only way we learn. There’s no way to know things before they’re known. It’s as if we think there’s a shortcut, an omniscience. How do we know what a strawberry tastes like until we eat one? At some point we’ll just have to risk taking a bite.
I think there is only individual experience and responsibility. When we’re caring enough, then we take responsibility for others, but we don’t always know the best thing to do, so we just give it our best shot. Might be right, might be wrong. Oops.
Maybe it comes down to intention?
One of the things I love best about what you say is how it highlights our need for “Them” to do the right thing without ever considering they’re just like us. All messy flawed humans with imperfect cognition. Not robots or gods.
Love your writing. Thanks for sharing it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed, as for the strawberry scenario you are spot on, there is absolutely no way to communicate that flavor. Words will not do it justice. Sweet and juicy will not cut it.
Thanks for reading and responding.
LikeLike