Mr.Atos
"The Earth is just too small and fragile a basket for the human race to keep all its eggs in."
- Robert Heinlein
Born in the late sixties, I had the good fortune to miss the emblemmatic idiocy of that era that has since bred both worship and consternation. Further judgements aside, we were the last sub-gen of the Baby Boomers born to the youngsters of the Greatest Generation venerated for their courage, integrity and their gift of progress and prosperity. Too young to be involved, and later too old to be corrupted, a small remnant of children preserved the dream of our parents, to carry forth the torch of progress and conduct personal and cultural achievement to yet higher pinnacles.
Perhaps we were the last to manifest a remnant of appreciation before the X-ers came along with their vision of hopelessness and tossed the torch aside. We wanted to be scientists, doctors, engineers, architects, pilots, and astronauts. They wanted everything and nothing. Their legacy was the curse of their parent's moral hangover impressed upon their children in a misfortune of genetic humiliation... narcissism and nihilism churned into a self destructive sludge that subdues all progress. And the nation suffered 30 years of veritable stagnation accordingly. In 1969 we witnessed a monochrome vision of American men walking on the moon.* By 2006, we have colorful recollections of the dream, with no desire to get it back, much less go beyond. Afterall, how can a people reach for the stars, when they are not permitted to hold up their heads in pride... consumed instead with the dirt at their feet. This was the gift of 60's progressive humanism; the curse of resignation. Yet, noted physicist Stephen Hawking is urging the human race to transcend the bounds of our terrestrial cradle and reach for once again for those stars. Hawking says humans must go into space,
The survival of the human race depends on its ability to find new homes elsewhere in the universe because there's an increasing risk that a disaster will destroy the Earth, world-renowned scientist Stephen Hawking said Tuesday.
Humans could have a permanent base on the moon in 20 years and a colony on Mars in the next 40 years, the British scientist told a news conference.
"It is important for the human race to spread out into space for the survival of the species," Hawking said. "Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers we have not yet thought of."
Do let's recall that detractors (Leftists and Democrats) criticized President Bush unmercifully for making just such a pledge in a 2004 public address.
According to the plan, a long-term lunar base would be a testing ground for equipment and techniques that would be used for deeper explorations into the solar system, including Mars. The moon's lower field of gravity would make it cheaper to launch flights.
"Space exploration has benefited all of humanity," said Bush. "It's mighty important to the country and the world. Human beings are headed into the cosmos."
Interesting that one of the greatest minds on Earth agrees with the President. What might that say about those critics? Not to make the subject of science political, but they have and it is, when clearly one party wants nothing to do with human achievement, and assured long-term survival.
Alan Guth, physics professor at M.I.T. is one critic, for instance, who dismisses Hawking's idea ,
Hawking's latest observations were something of a departure from his usual research and more applicable to survival over the long-term...
...But, he added, "I don't see the likely possibility within the next 50 years of science technology making it easier to survive on Mars and on the moon than it would be to survive on earth."
"I would still think that an underground base, for example in Antarctica, would be easier to build than building on the moon," Guth said.
Antarctica?! So rather than reaching for the stars, ivy league, ivory tower, tenured baggage proposes we dig deeper in the dirt beneath our feet. Guth no doubt shares the progressive gift of suicidal stupidity... despite his IQ and stature. But, the attitude is typical of the obstacles facing public leaders like President Bush, and dreamers like Stephen and Lucy Hawking. The father daughter pair have plans to author a fictional series on space travel targeted similarly to Rowling's Harry Potter series.
"It is a story for children, which explains the wonders of the universe," said Lucy Hawking. They did not provide further details.
Best of luck to them. They have the right idea. If most adults have forgotten how to strive and dream, then surely our children have the capacity to remind us how to do it. Afterall, venturing into space is infinitely more conceivable than flying on a broom.
"The earth is the cradle of humankind, but one cannot live in the cradle forever."
- Konstantin Tsiolkovsky
* corrected for accuracy
UPDATE 06.15.06:
In 1992 (or maybe it was '93), The alternative rock group, The Sundays could still recall the vision, powerfully enough to capture it in lyrics and tune. Its a beautiful message in both respects... Monochrome.
it's 4 in the morning July in '69
me and my sister
we crept down like shadows
they're bringing the moon right down
to our sitting room
static and silence
and a monochrome vision
they're dancing around
slow puppets silver ground
and the world is watching with joy
we hear a voice from above
and it's history
and we stayed awake
all night
and something is said and the whole room laughs aloud
me and my sister
looking on like shadows
the end of an age as we watched them walk in a glow
lost in space
but I don't know where it is
they're dancing around
slow puppets silver ground
and the stars and the stripes in the sand
we hear a voice from above
and it's history
and we stayed awake
all night
they're dancing around
it sends a shiver down my spine
and I run to look in the sky and
I half expect to hear them asking to come down
will they fly or will they fall?
to be excited
by a long late night
