The Importance of Paper

My sister brought up the fact that while we went to her graduation, all she received was an empty booklet type thing that was empty of everything except a single, glossy sheet of paper. Then she realised that she needed to actually go to her high school to get that little piece of paper that's the all-important High School Diploma. (I cannot believe that it's only been about two years since I had to do the same thing - and I forgot about it already.)

Then it hit me.

This world - and the modern human society (and any other living creature) - depends on paper, or even further back, trees. It's rather funny and ridiculous at the same time.

First, we live on good old Earth. On Earth, before us humans came along, there was a large amount of vegetation, including trees, and depending on where you were located, many other species of various fauna. Trees, through photosynthesis gives off Oxygen, which is a rather important gas that us Homo sapiens need to live. Then once we became more populous, trees were cut down to build fires and make simple living quarters.

As we became more "civilized," we found more ways to use trees: in weapons, in more complex shelter, and the ever-popular paper for everyday recording needs. Then, instead of using it just for recording revenue and other things, it became more widespread and people started to keep journals and books were getting printed and more widespread. Then, coined money expanded to include PAPER money (and we all know how much we love our $20 bills). What really makes me rethink everything, is when I realise that most everything that's important in this world is centered around paper.

You start in school and you interact with this object whilst finger-painting and other crafts that involve cutting the thin sheet. Then you get your first one dollar bill. Then after four hard, grueling years in High School - you get a piece of paper. After that, you attend college for four years and several thousand dollars down the drain later, you get another piece of paper. All of these pieces of paper all lead to the construction of a resume, also usually paper-based, and to a job, which leads to - you got it: your first paycheck. Which is also another form of money, but more condensed into a single rectangle of colored paper.

Don't you find this incredibly outrageous??

Well, I do.

OK, I'm done. (Just a spur-of-the-moment blog.)