World Making

November 21, 2022 Jerry King Comments 0 Comment

Morning, — is not the word poetic?

A one word poem that you can say over and over quietly, and feel your mood elevate in response. Dawn with rising sun, is portent of life, a call and response promise of “give and take” between the interior “self” and the exterior “world.”

What is meant by “world?” Why, no more and no less than you and I “make it to be.” You and I are “world makers.” The relation between us, such as it is, imperfect, jagged, easily frayed by mis-understanding sustains and supports “the real” which emerges from possibility. Many worlds are possible, many potential social arrangements. What we get is what we supported, demonstrated by our participation. What do I mean by participate? One is a player, fulfilling his/her role with the team on the field. Or one is in the stands, actively screaming one’s head off in a front row, or blissfully stands up and sits down in concert with fellow fans doing “the wave,” or perhaps you are one of those outliers silently objecting to the abject, desperate entertainment game being enacted on the field. Reality is produced, emanates from 1) screaming, full-throated support, 2) from passive acquiescence, or 3) from a mute-sullen presence…

I’ll say what you already suspect: there is no “outside” to this game. Everyone participates. There are no innocents.

This from today’s The New York Times::

To market their expansion of sports betting, gambling sites reached unusual agreements with at least eight universities, including Michigan State, the University of Colorado at Boulder and Louisiana State University. The schools became partners with the companies in exchange for millions of dollars in payments. These deals generated questions about whether promoting gambling on campus — especially to people who are at an age when they are vulnerable to developing gambling disorders — fits the mission of higher education.

At least $161 billion in wagers have been placed since sports betting was broadly legalized in the United States. This explosion of gambling is just the start. Betting companies have made clear that the ultimate goal is to bring so-called iGaming to states across the nation, where customers can use their mobile phones to play blackjack, poker and other casino-style games.

Perhaps you turn away from this vista? If so, that is a good sign. Concurrently there is more going on, emanating from our minds and hearts. Enjoy this wonderful tune!