CHEER UP -- YOUR BIRTHDAY IS DISTINCT FROM THAT OF AMERICA'S, THE LAND OF EARTHLY ENJOYMENT

CHEER UP -- YOUR BIRTHDAY IS DISTINCT FROM THAT OF AMERICA'S, THE LAND OF EARTHLY ENJOYMENT 

You are giving undue importance to America's independence on the 4th of July but America is an insignificant episode in the history of the universe. There have been countless other events on that date besides the political birth of USA of which you are oblivious, the birth of bacteria, thr advent and illumination of saints, the crashing of stellar matter, the ticking of 86400 earth seconds, the death of Swamiji, the ascension to power of monarchs, the desecration of cities, the destruction of individual hopes, the fulfilment of aspirations of countless individuals, the whole gamut of human experience, celestial events and evolving life-forms. America is just one of those countless events and nothing more. So, do not worry overmuch about your birthday coinciding with the birthday of that nass destroyer of nations in the name of living the American dream. Welcome the fact that you were born on the 4th of July but remember that the 4th of July one year is not the same as the 4th of July the next year or any year in the past or in the future. So, your birthday is distinct from America's over two centuries before your birth. The calendar that we use is no more than a human convenience to locate the time of terrestrial events but is not valid in quite the same way in the scientific sense. So, cheer up.

Written by Sugata Bose