The Big Bang and Black Swans: Some Thoughts by Luis Oliveros

I live in Spain (sometimes to my chagrin). I just came back from a relatively short trip like no other I had had for a long time. It was out of Europe, or rather, nearly out of “The West”. Actually not that far, Spain is, after all, Europe’s Southern frontier. The name of the country does not matter for the purpose at hand; suffice it to say that I went to a country where my telephone did not work unless I had wifi, the language of which I did not speak, where there was no public transport I could use, where I was not that familiar with some customs (although I did have a certain knowledge of the culture) where I was entirely dependent on the kindness of the people I stayed with … In a word, I was close to being out of my comfort zone. I was not entirely out of that comfort zone because I had money and a credit card, which means you can (nearly) always manage to get out of a difficult situation. Long past are the days when, having gone all the way to South-East Asia, I just had $250 in my pocket and no ticket to come back,- and I planned on staying some 6 months (I did know someone in at least one of those countries I visited).

Some things are just a fact, there is no discussion about them: everyone knows that the sun rotates around the Earth, the Earth is flat, the fastest you can travel is the speed of light, swans are white, Men (Adam) was made by God and let live in a paradise garden until snakes and apples made their appearance, women are made out of Adam’s rib and, at the same time, somehow, somewhere, there was a Big Bang.

By writing this, I have no intention of entering into a Religious argument or a discussion of any kind. I just want to point out that many of these “facts” are true until they prove to be wrong - by Science, a different belief or our own experience. And that is why I consider that these kinds of trips are indeed very necessary and useful to take us out of our own little world and bring us back to planet Earth. On planet Earth there are people with no food, many are at war, most do not have a car at their disposal and the great great majority have no money. In other words, most people on that planet have a different set of concerns that have very little to do with mine. Would they understand me ? Would I know how to relate to them ?

I must say that, if at least on these occasions, we did look at what we see, and relate to those people that are not in our everyday world, we may realize that many of the facts we take for certain are, after all, not that certain. 

I always wished to be open to those strangers and that planet, that is why I loved traveling, to go far and beyond, and that is why I consider these trips useful or even necessary. Of course, it takes effort, and it means  going through some inconveniences. Many (most?) are not willing or prepared to go out of their own little world and actually, when they travel, they take it with them, making them oblivious to others customs, cultures, even food. I am well aware that, against the enlightenment of Science, other Beliefs, or even our own Experience, most would prefer to live in their own fantasy. Thus, many of these facts continue to be facts instead of falling, once for all, into the category of true Fantasy.

Thank you for your patience. This introduction was just to tell you that, as “… described scientifically by English naturalist John Latham in 1790 “ (courtesy of Wikipedia), swans are of course white, yes, but also black. And what incredibly beautiful animals they are !!!. Below I will give you some.