The Code of Dinotopia... for Adults
(from the TV megaseries, not the book)

This page is in response to David Zurawik's (Sun Television Critic) comments regarding the Code of Dinotopia as posted on sunspot.net [in 2002 or before; no longer posted] which state[d]: "...the values of society, here known as codes. First Code of Dinotopia: One raindrop raises the sea. Second Code: Survival of all or none. Third Code: Weapons are enemies even of their owners. Blah, blah, blah, through 10 drippy codes filled with ideological mumbo-jumbo and part of an 11th lost one."

This webpage is posted on 15 May 2002 by Robert M. "Bob" Ellington in response to the above referenced webpage. The response is in the form of a narrative as a teacher in Dinotopia to a class of beginning students. The author of this webpage has never read the book (I watched the three-part series for the first time last night after recording all three parts), has never heard of David Zurawik before I ran across his "drippy" comments this morning, and believes that the following "drippy" codes far surpass many of the moral codes which some persons seem to live by today.

Today we will learn the "Code of Dinotopia". These eleven codes will guide you through life if you listen to your heart and your conscience. To remember the codes, remember "OSW GOOD SEE F".

The first code, number One, starts with "One": "One raindrop raises the sea." The first thing you need to learn is hope, and that to hope means to never quit. Have faith that your efforts count, and could make the difference to the whole world.

The "S"econd code starts with an "S", Survival. "Survival of all, or none" -- you must have hope to have the will to survive. The Third code tells you what to avoid so that WE All may survive -- weapons. "Weapons are enemies, even to their owners."

The first letters of the next seven codes spell out "GOOD SEE". You should try to see good in everyone. The Fourth and Fifth codes tell us, after we have survived, how to deal with others. To be GOod, we should, fourth, "Give more, take less", and fifth, "Others first, self last." (Did you ever wonder why the word "good" is so like the word "God"?)

The next five codes, six through ten, tell us how to deal with our own life. The Sixth code, the second "O", tells us to "Observe, listen, and learn." You should learn something new every day.

And once you have learned, the Seventh code, the "D", reminds us to "Do one thing at a time". Pay attention to the now, the moment in which you live.

The Eighth code, the "S", will sustain you -- "Sing everyday". But you must sing the right songs and think the right thoughts. Only perfect practice makes perfect.

The Ninth code is to help you grow: "Exercise imagination". You can be anything you dream you can be -- but you must see it in your mind, live it in your life, bend your thoughts to your dreams.

And the tenth code, the last "E" in "SEE" is for the energy we get from eating: "Eat to live, don't live to eat." Make food a means, not an end.

The eleventh code, the Final one, is the easiest to remember: "Find the light". Live honorably, for it is, in the end, all you have -- your Foundation must be of the Light.

Remember, if you would learn, first you must listen.

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Page created: 15 May 2002 ~~ Last Modified: 20 February 2007