Its Not A Competition

The kites, each in sync with the other, were controlled by metronomes, invisible strings and women with bare feet on the sands. Diving up, down, left, right, twirl, twirl, up, down, along sideways etc. you’ve probably seen something look alike. Sheba and the MC rocked up to sit beside the Sphinx, who was captivated by the display and wanted to join up the design.

It’s not a competition.

Yes, it is.

Look, they are all trying to outdo the next kiteflight, in design and skills, ergo it is a competition.

No, look again, they are just, each, doing their best and appreciating the efforts of their compatriots in the land of Kite. Or should it be sky of Kite.

Here, said the MC, is the nut in a nutshell, are the humans in a competition? Each with another, or are they on the same team? Are they continuously trying to outdo, outplay, outearn? Or are they on the same page, pulling in the same direction and reading from the same cookery book etc. As things stand it appears both concurrently, which is as confusing as the idea of a god who prefers one people to another.

Someone must choose, otherwise this mayhem will out, ensue and conquer, leaving broken pieces strewn.

If, say, I am become the arbiter, said she Sphinx, Can I be of assistance? I could sit in a fine comfortable chair with cushions, in a grand room with draping fabrics across the marbled walls. I can see it all now. The Humans could come to visit their petty grievances and imagined land rights and argue them on bended legs. I would consider everything carefully whilst sipping a cool beverage, and then unleash my claws and send them away with their tails over their shoulders to repent their ridiculous pride. Would that help at all? I would need considerable holiday allowance as my mind is prone to wander, my attention span in notoriously curt and I get bored easily. By the way, here she addressed Sheba alone, Did you bring the Tapis Magique?

No, said Sheba that would not. Anyway, its tail between legs, not over the shoulder. How then shall we guide their decisions? Continued Sheba, When they are so separated and disparate. When the shuffling of powers and relationships dictate, we cannot. We can only watch and wince in horror at the horrific outcomes, the unexpected consequences, the inconsiderate behaviour, the cruelty and lack of empathy. I have more value than you etc. It’s all very disappointing.

Oh yes, I think that I stashed the flying carpet in the baggage train somewhere, but it’s not fully charged.

I must just interject that I am enjoying the Kites, said She Sphinx, they look elegant, and their flights make the invisible winds manifest. Can’t we just appreciate for once without getting all judgemental? I think that tails should lie over their shoulders, like troubles, it is more poetic, but hey ho. I’ll just go and plug in the carpet, these kites have put me in the mood for flight.

Sorry, said Sheba, I have a tendency to extrapolate and map small events onto the global crise.

Sorry, said the MC, It’s my job, I have trouble compartmentalising and just enjoying the moment. The Universe has no morality inbuilt, it is of our own invention, but that does not make it any the less.

How come, said she Sphinx, returning, rolled carpet under paw, Morality works a treat within each society, but when societies come into conflict, over the price of beans, the colour of a flag or whose piece of desert is this, all the rules that are treasured and practised within, dissipate in the instant of cultural contact and all bets are off? Including safety catches?

It appears to be a rule that there is little or no morality practised between social groups, In fact they seem to enjoy the maxim, shoot first and ask question later.

It makes me want to take to the skies and join the Kite display.

And so that is that, the Sphinx took to the rechargeable electric flying rug, mingling and dodging the kite display hard by the windy beach. Sometimes flying in unison with the choreographed kite groups and sometime going rogue against the backdrop of tourists attracted.

Sheba sighed and turned in anguish to the MC, will you put your shoulder to the wheel of moral progress between groups, pour something oily upon the troubley waters of foreign policy and inter galactic conflict?

If they would simply read my dials, said the MC, the answers lie clear. Until the humans make specific request of my services I’m off to the mountains for a bit of snow sports.