By MARK DEVOLDER
Los Alamos

Note: I had a very difficult time writing Part V because something was eluding me.

Recently, I began to consider how people use their time. I concluded that most people spend the majority of their time on work, family, sleep and entertainment. I can understand the need for the first three activities; however, the last category puzzled me.

Americans spend quite a bit of time on entertainment. We have machines/utilities that make life easier and permit us to complete chores quickly – automobiles, appliances, calculators, I-phones, electric lighting and computer-based tax programs to name a few. This provides more leisure time for millions of people.  So how does all that leisure time get used? I am sure that some of the time is taken up with various sources of entertainment. Sources of entertainment might include politics, religion/socializing after religious services, watching television/videos/DVD’s/computer streaming, listening to music at concerts/on the radio or computer, getting together with friends or going to a party, going to sports events, playing various kinds of sports, going to the gym, going for a walk, engaging in various hobbies (all kinds of those), reading books/newspapers/magazines/articles on the internet, investing in the stock market, playing games, drinking a favorite beverage, playing a musical instrument, shopping on the internet, building a fence, etc. The way Americans spend time on entertainment is unlimited.  And the amount of time spent on entertainment? Well that depends on other factors such as work, family and sleep.

This raises the question about the value of entertainment. I have been concerned for decades about the construction of sports stadiums. They don’t come cheap. Often, cities construct sports stadiums and let their infrastructure fall apart. That was the case with the Astrodome in Houston and the failure of Houston’s sewer system in the early 1970’s.   

I have concerns about politics being entertaining. I believe that is why we have political “parties.” If you are a public official, it must be fun to listen to lobbyists and spend the taxpayer’s money. After all, the money isn’t coming out of the public official’s checking account. Besides, they can vote themselves a raise if need be. It must be entertaining to go to political rallies or listening to debates. Would-be presidents like Abraham Lincoln were quite gifted at debating. John Adams commented that politicians would spend two days debating the subject of 2 plus 3 equaling 5 if that issue came before Congress.  CPA’s have an easier time with arithmetic. If they are asked what is the sum of 2 plus 3, they might respond, “What do you want it to be?”   

I think that religion is very entertaining. It is helpful if religion provides some kind of moral guidance.  However, human beings have been killing each other since the beginning of time over religion and other belief systems. The lesson: Thou shalt do everything wrong and get kicked out of the Garden of Eden. 

I am no expert on the religion. Some people go to college and specialize in religious careers. I am not one of those specialists. However, I am somewhat acquainted with the story of the Tower of Babel.  Humans tried to build a tower (probably a Ziggurat) to the heavens to make a name for themselves.  Someone’s idea of entertainment I suppose. God destroyed the tower and spread people across the earth, confusing their language.  

In the reference, there is a discussion about a California get-together of sailors from many countries. The sailors spoke various different languages. The author indicated that it was a perfect Babel. However, it appeared that the sailors were able to figure out a few words so that could communicate – kind of like a common denominator. This indicates that God found it thoughtful and maybe “entertaining” to give each human being a brain so that they could work out their own problems. I also found it interesting that the author of the reference was always trying to learn about other people’s language. (Note: This is what was eluding me until I read about it.)

Certainly, God has a sense of humor or God would never have created giraffes as well as other strange and wonderful critters (quadrupeds with ten toes on each foot).

I think that many people need heroes or people need something to believe in that is bigger or supposedly better than themselves. Instead of people looking inward and trusting their own best judgement based on education, reading, research, experimentation, experience or rational arguments from other people, they look to God, the Bible/other religious documents/teachings, various heroes past and present, politicians, gifted religious speakers, sports entities or businessmen who made it big in the stock market – you name it.

I am no different. I think Herb Brooks, the coach of the 1980 American Olympic Hockey Team got it right (the Disney movie “Miracle”). He told his team, “No one has ever worked hard enough to keep up with the Soviet hockey team. Gentlemen we are going to work that hard.” Brooks told his wife, “What is important, is that when the team members look back in twenty years, they will know that they didn’t leave anything on the table.” Frankly, I think that is the best kind of entertainment because it makes me want to work hard / work harder.  And I think that is a pretty good lesson most Americans.

Ken Burns and associates developed a series called “Jazz.” During the Depression of the 1930’s, people were flat broke. However, they saved their pennies during the week so that they could go dancing/listen to jazz music on the weekends. It was an escape from a bitter reality. Walt Disney developed wonderful, animated stories (for example, the 1937 animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) which was also an escape from reality during the Depression.

As people struggle with work, family and/or sleep issues, I can understand why they might want to seek out entertainment (perhaps escape). On the other hand, the reference outlines the hardships of a sailor’s life in the 1835 time frame. What I am getting out of the reference is that work/adversity helps to harden/toughen people and that helps them to endure. I think that is best kind of entertainment of all – people who want to work to improve themselves, make good life decisions and stand on their own.