Civilization & Evolution

Evolution seems like such a strange idea for me, when it comes to humans. 

How and why would civilization begin?

At the same time, how would humans survive without it?

I can understand kings being thought of as gods. Everyone is dying from starvation and freezing cold temperatures, and there is a man that can gather all the people and provide enough for them to eat, shows them how to build homes and gives them a place to stay and work. 

But why would that happen? Humans had to be able to survive on their own at one point if they evolved from something else. 

So why would an early human, who is struggling to find food, who can't store it because he doesn't have a refrigerator or a freezer, who is trying to take care of himself and his family want to take on more people that aren't his? 

Is it war & assimilation with other tribes?  Fear of the surrounding environment and a desire to have safety in numbers? 

Why would anyone else that is already established want to take on someone who is weak and afraid?  Why would they support them?  Why would we evolve sympathy, or empathy, or morals?

If it IS survival of the fittest?

Humans just don't fit into the evolutionary  discussion. 

Animals fit perfectly. It makes perfect sense with them. 

We're not from this place. Nothing about us makes sense. 

How do you evolve consciousness?

Assigning meaning

It's funny how we assign meanings to things. 

Sometimes there's just no reason for things happening the way that they do. 

The world doesn't have an alterior motive. It just happens. 

Stop trying to assign meaning to it. 

It's just life. Do what you have to do and move on. 

Today, while driving to see my son's band competition a guy passed me, while I was driving 35 in a 35 mph zone. Up ahead it turns to 55, and he passed me doing 60. 

No big deal. I catch up to him later because traffic is slower ahead of him. When he makes his turn, I look over and he is giving me the finger. 

What???!!!

Why?  That doesn't even make sense. Why would he do that?  

Here's the point. There are literally an infinite number of things that can be going through that person's head at that time, and for me to spend time (or waste time) trying to figure it out, is pointless. 

I could assign a meaning to it, but I would just be trying to appease my own mind. So why waste any time thinking about it?  Unless I'm going to stop and talk to the guy to figure out what is going on with him (which none of us EVER does) then why worry about it?

So back to my son's band competition. His school finished 11th overall, out of 15 schools, but 2nd in their class. While the first number was "meh", the second made me happier. 

But why should it matter?  I know my son is amazing, whether he plays the trombone or not.  The school worked so hard, and did so well. 

I watched a lot of practices and they NEVER did better before, but they nailed it this time. I KNOW what they accomplished, just as every other parent, from every other school who witnessed the result from all of those practices and all of the time that is put into marching band. They were incredible. These kids are as young as 13-14 years old and they performed SO well.

THEY PLAYED THEIR HEARTS OUT AND TRIED SO HARD. 

Whether they nailed it or not doesn't matter. Do any of the parents love their children less?  If there any that do, they shouldn't have had children. 

Why do we need someone to judge what they did?  Or give out an award. Especially when it is just coming from someone who is seeing the final result for the first time. 

Mr. Petrucci, great job. I'm proud of you and all of our kids. 

Don't worry about the results of the world, or what other people say. 

You can't always be #1 in the world, or even your neighborhood. But the fact that you wanted to be for us, your parents, means that you're already a success in life. 

Good job guys.