The Evils of Time and Chance

I think it is pertinent to explain the concept of time and chance to put the three topics already discussed in perspective. It is vital to state that time is always associated with space, because whatever happens in time, happens within a space that can be perceived by individuals. This time was initially measured with the hour glass and most recently the clock.

Einstein in his theory of relativity postulates that the speed of light is finite and constant, and he further postulates that for two events to be simultaneous, it, “requires that distances appear compressed and time intervals appear lengthened for events associated with objects in motion relative to an inertial observer.” – Wikipedia on Time

The above postulation has been corroborated by the etymology of this blog “Time and Chance” as observed by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9: 11 that:

“Again, I observed this on the earth: the race is not always won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity does not always belong to those who are the wisest, wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning, nor does success always come to those with the most knowledge--for time and chance may overcome them all.” – NET BIBLE

I have had course to review the above passage in the light of Einstein’s theory of relativity, my personal experiences and cause of history. I have noticed that as a kid, there was a  boy who was always first among a class of 200 pupils and they would always call his unbelievable grade before the assembly of pupils. We also had such a kid in my secondary school. Everyone including the teachers in the two schools mentioned saw these kids as special I aspired to have a brain as retentive as theirs, but I have no idea where the two are, I grew up believing their names would never fade and I keep listening to news to hear about these lads and I am yet to hear their names on the news or blogs etc as i expected. May be they are successful where they are, maybe some of them got confused as to which career path to follow. This confusion is understandable as their high IQ means they can grasp knowledge on any field and this can lead to choosing a wrong career, unlike some of us who knew from day one our limitations and the area of our competence. I was very incompetent in maths, but very rational and knew only the legal profession or the acts, drawing, acting was there for me.

But before, I lose sight of the passage above, let me briefly tell the story of Ian Fleming's 30 Commando unit, this unit is legendary for their James Bond style method of stealing enemy secrets. However, they had an operation that was a failure and to that I must avert my mind to.  “The men of 30AU were trained in all the key commando skills - hand-to-hand combat, booby traps and explosives. Many learned to parachute, handle small boats or dive as frogmen. They learned how to break and enter, how to pick locks and crack - or blow – safes”. Despite all these, the mission in Dieppe  to steal the German Engima machine was a failure. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21629270 (culled 30th September, 2013)

Let me summarized the disaster as written in BBC:

"When the landing craft became lodged on a submerged object just a few metres from the beach, he realised the game was up. Machine and cannon fire rained down from the cliffs as McGrath and the other commandos stripped off their kit, throwing aside their weapons. Those that could swim dived off the boat and swam for their lives through a sea foaming with bullets. McGrath - not a strong swimmer - says he was beginning to go under when the smokescreen cleared and he was spotted by a small Allied boat which dragged him aboard. It was the first of many close calls for McGrath. But almost 1,000 other men had no such luck. They died in the raid at Dieppe, which most military scholars regard as an unmitigated disaster. Fleming's commandos came back empty-handed. They hadn't even stepped ashore"

. Paul McGrath might not have been the strongest, the best shooter or the most talented in life saving maneuvers, in fact he was not even a good swimmer, but recognized an allied small boat and got into it, but time and chance happened to those who died, clearly putting into perspective the theory of Einstein that that for two events to be simultaneous, it, “requires that distances appear compressed and time intervals appear lengthened for events associated with objects in motion relative to an inertial observer.”

This blog is about being in the so-called wrong place at wrong time.