Space Age Prejudice
By Chad Wilson
Publisher
www.paranormalunderground.net
With the recent discovery of a plethora of Earth-like exoplanets, that is planets in other solar systems, I don’t think it’s a matter of if there is other life in the Universe, but more a matter of when we will we discover these other life forms.
With the storied history of racism and prejudice on our planet, I am led to wonder how will we, as a species, react when we eventually meet face to face with life on other planets and more specifically, how we will react to other forms of life that are different than our own?
Knowing the human species and its propensity to segregate and ostracize that which it doesn’t understand, will we be able to fit into Galactic society with our common hang-ups over race, beliefs, gender, and the like?
Imagine if you will a life form based not on water, but say methane. Will we even consider the members of that species as being on the same level as us humans? Even more extreme, say we come across a life form that is like a bacteria. They might seem small and insignificant to us due to their size, but what do we know?
We define life according to our limited, Earth-bound view. We have only stepped out into our own solar system in the past 50 or so years, let alone a Galaxy that could very well be infinite in its scope.
Maybe this is why we are approached with apprehension by supposed alien visitors. Any extraterrestrial species who has observed our history will see us for what we are, a self-destructive species full of bigotry and hate.
Yes, we can also be compassionate, kind, and caring, but the former makes us less attractive as a species, even with the latter taken into account.
So, what are we to do as a species? Hopefully, in time we will grow and leave behind our tendency to try to control, conquer, and even destroy that which is different. Only then do I think we will be accepted by whatever other life are out there.
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Wow. That is an extraordinarily slanted and cynical view of the human race. While I agree with you in principle regarding the possibilities of extra-terrestrial life, I find your tendency to degrade your brethren species while elevating a hypothetical life-form to a level of benevolence that would make Ghandi look like Adolph Hitler, interesting. While it is certainly true that our race has witnessed certain autrocities that is sure to breed the sort of cynicism that is interlaced in your blog – there are some beautiful aspects to our race which I feel you blatantly overlook. There is no guarantee that any extraterrestrial life forms that we have yet to encounter would rise to the level of divinity that you seem to imply here. While we may indeed encounter a race which has long since learned to live without prejudice and hate, there is as likely a chance that we may befriend a tyrant who can implement genocide on a global scale that we have yet to imagine.
Cut our race some slack – we’re not perfect, but we’re doing the best we can.
Well, I’d have to disagree with Bryan about your blog/publisher’s letter, Chad. I think it’s well written and right on point. You do acknowledge the beautiful aspects of the human race in your blog, and I definitely don’t see any “degrading of your brethren species.”
The bottom line is that some in the human race have perpetrated horrible atrocities throughout history. Why? Because the people they “hated” were different than they were and, in some ways, they feared that.
The point I take from your blog is that some people shoot first and ask questions later. What would be different for those people once an extraterrestrial life form shows up?
Over the course of history, “humans have been a self-destructive species full of bigotry and hate,” we “control, conquer, and even destroy,” and we are “compassionate, kind, and caring.” You are 100% right about all three of those statements Chad. These sides of the human nature will come into play, IMO, when we meet up with ET.
My personal hopes are that when the time comes, we are ready and don’t shoot first and ask questions later.
Biological life is, by it’s very nature, both resource-intensive and competitive. How do we know they won’t shoot first and ask questions later? Of course, since we spend far more money giving “cash-for-clunkers” rebates than we do on NASA, we can almost be guaranteed that we’ll be the ones getting invaded.
Yes, another point to consider Jim. You could very well be right!
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