[meteorite-list] Meteorite-list Digest, Vol 64, Issue 45

[Eric Wichman]

Mike,

In response to the below comment, I'd like to say I'll take those 
suckers off your hands for ya... ;)

"I now have 52 localities in my collection....do I own them? No."

Law is law and possession is 9/10 of it! And though human beings, moral 
dogma and law are insignificant when compared to a hugely ancient 
universe, it would be naive to think that you could not or should not 
own anything of value regardless of how little time we are here.

According to your philosophy no one really owns anything, and countries, 
nations, governments, businesses, and other legal entities, including 
people don't really own their land, their house, their car, or the TV 
sitting in their living room, but in fact it is owned by the cosmos 
itself. I get the philosophy behind it but it isn't as powerful as 
possession and a humans primal need for ownership of property.

Ownership of something is physical, natural, and inherent. It's not an 
intangible philosophy.

Tell that to Russia, China, Iran, or Israel for that matter. Hell, tell 
it to any of the countries on this planet including the US government.

The philosophy is right, in the end it really won't matter.

But today it does...

Regards,
Eric





Subject:
[meteorite-list] Swedish Fireballs with pasta and sauce
From:
Michael Gilmer <michael_w_gilmer at yahoo.com>
Date:
Sun, 18 Jan 2009 07:44:20 -0800 (PST)

To:
meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com


Hi Martin and list,

The Danish law (and others like it) are excellent examples of human
arrogance.  No man or government ever "owns" a meteorite.  We are
only temporary caretakers of these cosmic relics.  The lifespan of 
the most enduring Earthly government is but an eye blink on the
cosmic timeline.  I always laugh when I consider the hubris of men,
and the concept of a government owning all meteorites that happen
to fall on a piece of land that the same government stole from someone
else is the height of human arrogance.  Last time I checked, the
Danish (or anyone for that matter) were not the original inhabitants
of the land they now claim.  Ownership of the Earth below our feet
or the rocks from the sky above is a privilege granted by the Goddess
of Chance - and nothing more.  When the weak body of man or the flimsy
apparatus of the state crumbles into dust like the monuments of
Ozymandias, these 4+ billion year old relics will continue on with
their strange journey - regardless of what fool signs a piece of paper
and claims ownership.

I now have 52 localities in my collection....do I own them?  No.  

I am just lucky enough that Fate placed them in my loving hands, so
I may look after them until it comes time for me to rejoin the stars.

Laws like these (that Martin mentioned) hurt everyone and benefit no one.

Regards and clear skies,

MikeG