A month ago, I was in Turkey for a project called "From Depths of Space to the History of the Past". It was a project to introduce astronomy to children and public in Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey.

It was a success as far as I can tell. We reached more than 10 thousand students and children. There were planterium shows, conferences, exhibitons and slide shows and presentations for children.

I was making one of those presentations and was talking about the size of the universe. I started from the solar system and compared the sizes of Sun and Mercury to them: If the Sun is the size of a football ball, Mercury is the size of a sesame. Then I was comparing the largest known star (VY Canis Majoris) and the sun: If VY Canis Majoris is a football ball, the Sun is 1/10 of a sesame.

Incredible sizes, aren't they?

Now how is that connected with the understanding of Life: by comparison.

In life, we compare. We compare, to understand things, to see things, to load a meaning to them. But is that the right thing to do?

Well, I won't make any discussion about what is wrong and right. But I believe in one thing that comparisons are a tool for understanding of our humble minds. Otherwise, I admit that, it is really hard. We compare to simplify life.

Let's now return back to the topic I started: In my comparison the sizes as well got mixed up a bit. Because compared to a sesame you don't know what Mercury's size is or Milky Way's size. So we don't know. When we compare we simply don't know 'cause we simplify.

That's human mind. That's us. Even though we don't want, we compare. I compare as well. This was a discussion to myself. No conclusion, no ending. There are things in life which we cannot change. This is just one of them...

Dear rich people, celebrities and those who are living a life which is admired;

Hello... I am a person who is living with the leftovers of you. I eat the foods with hormones and carcinogen, which you wouldn't like to eat. I drink contaminated waters which you don't drink. I wear unhealthy synthetic clothes that you stay away from. I make love with the people that you don't want to... I even marry with people that you don't like but who are in love with you. I let them dream of you while kissing me.

Don't get it wrong, I am not complaining. I really can love those people, those foods and drinks. In fact, I love you as well. I am just tired and a little bit bored. I became unable to do my duty. With your permissions, I wanna quit. Don't worry I raised two boys for you. They won't make you feel my absence. The little one, sweety, already loves jaded tomatoes.

Kiss your eyes...


(Cartoon by Yiğit Özgür, published on in Uykusuz Magazine 6th August 2008)