Seeterlin 1

Jason Seeterlin
Ms. Dockus
American Literature
7 February 2016
Response to Carl Sagans Cosmic Perspective Quote
I have a personal feeling that comes with the word Cosmic. I first felt it during the
summer of 2008, when I was visiting my uncles lakeside cottage in upstate michigan. My other
uncle was also visiting, and had brought with him a large, expensive telescope that he set up on
the beach. After the sun had set, and the vast city of stars twinkled to life, my uncle and I spent a
good 20 minutes focusing the telescope on a special yellow dot up in the sky. Through the lens I
could see the planet Saturn, with its shining rings circling its tan atmosphere. I was amazed that
something so far away could be captured in a piece of glass that can fit in my hand. That is what
I believe is a Cosmic Perspective.
My family owns a DVD collection of Carl Sagans Cosmos a television series that
teaches about science and our universe. I found it enthralling as a kid, and I still remember when
Carl Sagan said that Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human
disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another. I find
this relevant to my theme of individuality because it shows how our uniqueness stretches through
not only society, but also the stars.
The uniqueness of an individual goes beyond fears, beyond beliefs, beyond hatreds,
beyond loves, beyond DNA, and now beyond the stars. While others may look out at the
universe and feel small or insignificant, I look out at night and feel closer to the world around
me. That is because at my cosmic perspective, everything can fit in my hand.

Seeterlin 2
Sagan, Carl. Quotes About Individuality. 618 Quotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
Portfolio Response Assessment
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Grammar/Style
MLA/WC

5/5
5/5
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