The Smart People by LD Post 2 of 2 (Read This piece second)

When I was a small boy I read Robinson Crusoe and Swiss Family Robinson. I watched Gilligan's Island on television. I remember thinking Robinson Crusoe was smart. And the Robinson family built one helluva, awesome tree-house. And the Professor on Gilligan's Island, well in my small mind, he was the smartest man in the world.

It occurred to me at a very young age that if I was stranded on a deserted island without food, water, and shelter. I would die. I was Gilligan. I was not the Professor.

When I was a bit older I sometimes would dream about time travel. And I quickly realized if I were to magically travel back in time in some time machine that I was not smart enough to create that I would be pretty useless to Pilgrims or Ancient Egyptians or even Hunter Gatherers. My modern, mouth full of marbles (New Jersey accent) and my dorky plaid shirt and corduroy pants might allow me to convince people in the past that I was from the future or maybe another planet.

Then of course the people in the past would say teach me something.So I would take out my smartphone and without a signal it would not work. So I would tell people from the past if they understood my broken, modern English about electricity, cars, computers, television, and my not working phone. I would tell them about amazing life in the future. And they would say make something cool, build something. We want you teach us something amazing. And I would say, Um. Um. I'm too dumb to make you or teach you anything. cocktail for party with navy blue color

It occurred a long time ago that the life I live today exists because of a group of people in history I call THE SMART PEOPLE.

The Smart People knew enough to play with fire.
Fire to keep them warm. Fire to scare away over-sized cats and life threatening mosquitoes. Fire to cook the raw bacteria infested meat, so they wouldn't get sick and die.

The Smart People figured out how to farm and domesticate animals.

The Smart People created language, both oral and written.
The Smart People built homes.
The Smart People made laws.
The Smart People created schools.
And later universities.
The Smart People made medicine.
The Smart People performed surgeries.
The Smart People made cars, boats, and planes.
The Smart People made radios, televisions, and computers.
The Smart People made my smart phone.

I am Gilligan. I would die on the island.

I am a worthless time traveler.

I would tell people in the past. Wash your hands a lot. Eat green things to stay healthy. Don't bleed yourself out when your sick. And that's about it. They probably wouldn't listen to me. I would rely on them to stay alive.

It occurred to me if I had been raised in a primitive society. I would be primitive.

If I had been raised by wolves. I would act like a wolf.

I realized a long time ago. People way smarter than me paved the way so I could live in this magical world. I wonder about these people often. Some like Edison and Gates, we know and appreciate. Most of the smart people are lost in history.

Thank you, SMART PEOPLE from the past and present. The world you helped build amazes me. I am thankful that you came before me. Yes, I am Gilligan.