A World Utopia....Is it possible?

[Quixote1818]

I once read that Thomas Jefferson believed that once the human spirit was set free that anything was possible. He and several of the founding Fathers profoundly influenced by the Age of Enlightenment believed that an UNENDING progress would be possible. I read that Jefferson actually thought that once we started to use science to unlock the secrets of the universe eventually all disease would be ended, all poverty stooped and world peace would one day become a reality. Was Jefferson nuts or was his foresight more on track than we could have ever imagined? We still have soooo far to go but look at what we have accomplished in two hundred years! I think Jefferson had remarkable foresight. Not even Jefferson could have immagined computers and that we would land on the Moon. Ever notice that it's always optimists that end up with their heads on coins?

The Age of Enlightenment

The ‘Age of Enlightenment’ is a term used to describe the trends in thought and letters in Europe and the American colonies during the 18th century, prior to the French Revolution of 1789-1799.
Enlightenment meant an emergence from centuries of darkness and ignorance to a new age guided by reason, science and a new respect for humanity. New discoveries in science such as Newton’s law of gravity gave mankind a new way of looking at the world. If mankind could unlock the laws of the universe, God’s own laws the possibilities of reason were thought to be endless. People came to assume that through a judicious use of reason, an unending progress would be possible; progress in knowledge, technical achievement, and even in moral values.

Enlightenment philosophers saw the church, especially the Roman Catholic Church as the primary force that had enslaved the human mind through out history. While they despised the politics of the Church most Enlightenment thinkers did not renounce religion altogether.
A new philosophy called Deism, started to take hold, which accepted the existence of God and an afterlife but rejected the dogma of the Christian theology. Creating a peaceful harmonious world began to take president over religious salvation. Living for the moment and improving this life became more important than what may or may not happen after death. After all, we know we can impact the world we live in but what happens after death is a great mystery unknown to anyone so why worry about it?

A desire arose to reexamine and question all received ideas and values with a clean slate, to explore new ideas and take those ideas in many different directions. To let free inquiry, trial and error and scientific based conclusions define what is truth. More than a set of fixed ideas, the Enlightenment implied an attitude and method of thought more in tune with the scientific method than superstition.
During the first half of the 18th century, against incredible odds the leaders of the Enlightenment waged an uphill struggle to change the worlds thinking. Hampered by government censorship, attacks by the church and even imprisonment, Enlightenment believers sacrificed comfort and safety to fight for what they deeply believed in. What there hearts and minds told them was the right thing to do to create a better world.

To wards the end of the century the movement began to make inroads and win battles. An enormous influx of publications such as newspapers and books helped the Enlightenment spread ideas and begin to change hearts and minds. Before long those ideas would make it to the New World and profoundly impact the leaders of the American Revolution and eventually help mold our Constitution and Republic.

[Rainbowreflect]

1. I believe it is possible (sometimes I believe).

See my sig line.

[Quixote1818]

4. Rainbowreflect

I wanted to share a poem I wrote with you as we seem to see the Universe through the same prizm. It's intended to be a children's book.


What's A Rainbow Really Do?


First two pages

No words only a two page illustration of the world before any life existed as the first rainbow shimmers in the first rainstorm.


Story Begins


Red, yellow, violet, blue,
Orange, green, indigo too.

Here is a little riddle for you,
What's a rainbow REALLY DO?

You see it all started when the earth was young,
And the universe had just begun.

The story of the rainbow came to be,
And with it a message for you and me.

The clouds grew thick and the skies turned gray,
On that mysterious, wonderful, eventful day.

Something magic was in the air,
Something beautiful, something rare.

Violent storm clouds were beginning to grow,
As gusting winds did start to blow.

Then out of nowhere came a brilliant flash,
And seconds later a MIGHTY CRASH!

Blackness overtook the entire sky,
And drops of moisture began to fly.


Dark and gloomy was that day,
Misty, damp with million shades of gray.

But the storm then began to break apart,
And that's when God expressed what was in his heart.

The drops of flying moisture were struck,
By sunlight filled with hope and luck.

Split apart by the raindrops blue,
Creating something of many a hue.

A ribbon of colors began to form,
Snap dab in the middle of that violent storm.

A glowing arch with lots to teach,
And almost impossible to ever reach!

What could it be, what could it be,
Shimmering along the shore of a brackish sea?

It was a GLOWING RAINBOW arching high,
That stretched across the ancient sky!

What a sight it must have been,
The VERY FIRST rainbow as it was then.

From a distance it's majestic gleam,
Shimmering above the rising steam.

While molten lava flowed between,
Ancient mountains into rushing streams.

The surface of the earth was new,
And the earliest oceans were turning blue.

After many years had passed,
Their sprouted a tiny blade of grass.

Soon plants and flowers would begin to bloom,
And natures great riddle would start to boom!

Red, yellow, lavender, blue,
Pink, purple, indigo, too.

Flowers, flowers everywhere,
Painted the landscape with natures loving care.


Microscopic forms of life,
Then became a common sight.

Dinosaurs and mammals too,
Would someday see a rainbows hue.

Primates then would walk the land,
And a million years later our ancestors would stand.

Dreams, inventions not then seen,
Have now become a common theme.

Like super fast computer chips,
And planetary trips on rocket ships.

From mother earth did all this grow,
And through out time all life would know; the beauty of a rainbows glow.

For hidden in the sun and soil,
Is natures riddle in which we toil.

But if you follow a rainbows glow,
The truth thats hidden you will know.

If you're kind and if you're true,
You can certainly see it to.

It's in the golden sun above,
It's in the souls of those you love.

It's in the stars and in the sky,
It's even in mom's apple pie.

What is it you reply?
A piece of magic that will never die.

For all the answers to which we exist,
Lye in the wisdom of a rainbows mist.

Those glowing colors arching high,
Are there to teach your soul to fly.

For every child holds the key,
To all of life's great mysteries.


Though on your own you will find no bliss,
So always, always remember this.

For the most important part of natures great riddle,
Are those who suffer and have very little.

So as you rest in your warm safe home,
Think of those who are all alone, with no one to talk to on the phone.

And think of those who live in pain,
Who's lives depend upon the rain.

When drought and famine plague the land,
They desperately wait for a helping hand.

Or for the day again they will know,
The touch of rain upon their soul, and the beauty of a rainbows glow.

But if you're filled with love and dreams,
You can do most anything!

And with a little love and care,
All pain and hunger can disappear.

And peace on earth can truly be,
The norm for every day to be.

Anything is possible you see,
It's totally up to you and me!

And like a flower what will blossom?
A heaven on earth that's truly awesome!

Red, yellow, violet, blue,
Orange, green, indigo too.

If you follow a rainbows glow,
The truth thats hidden you will know.

So the next time you see a rainbow’s glow
Remember all that you now know.

That love and magic live within,
Everything that’s ever been.
A rainbow is the archway you see,
To love, peace and harmony.

Just remember you hold the key,
To impossible dreams and mystery.


That was the message that lived within,
The very first rainbow as it was then.

Shimmering over the barren land,
Waiting for someone to understand.

The greatest riddle is here at hand,
And impossible dreams can rule the land!


Last two pages have no words only an illustration of a rainbow over a beautiful scene of mountains, trees and flowers with people and animals in a future utopia.

[Rainbowreflect]

5. That is beautiful, that's for sharing.

I live by the belief "No Rain, No Rainbow" but you message is better.

[Dookus]

2. Nope

because the problem is not that there are good and bad people. It's that ALL people are part good, part bad, in varying proportions.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

3. In some ways the enlightenment was right on.

However it set women's rights back ages. Rousseau argued for seperate spheres for men and women and set the stage for the state of subjugation of women that we are now only beginning to remove ourselves from.