What would you do if the media announced extraterrestrials
are real? Would your
immediate reaction be based on the very cute E.T., the age-defying properties
of Cocoon, or be a more fear-based response based on memories of Invasion of
the Body Snatchers or Battleship?
Would a media blitz announcing the reality of ETs have you searching for
Tommy Lee Jones’s secret M.I.B. phone number?
I love the idea of us having a space family. I had to develop that love, though; it
didn’t come easily. As a young’un,
Saturday nights were often spent watching creature features and outer space
epics. This was in the day before
Star Wars made a bar full of dangerous, dubious characters comedic.
One of the most fearsome invasion movies – the movie that
still gets my heart beating – was The Day The Earth Stood Still with Michael
Rennie. The special effects were
low budget, but that didn’t keep me from using my imagination. I think I looked over my shoulder for a
couple of weeks after I saw that film the first time!
In spite of those 1950’s films designed to scare young kids,
and the movies that came later, the idea that we aren’t alone in the universe
took hold. I began seeing the
world as a larger place. Along
came the Space Race, the moon landing, Apollo 13 and the Space Station. Stars were no longer something to
wish on but potential destinations.
What an exciting time!
We continue to live in exciting times. The Mars Rover Curiosity has sent back
phenomenal photos, and is collecting information that has set scientists on
their collective ears. Photos of
saucer-like ships hovering over the London Olympic Opening Ceremony have been
circulating the Internet. Reports
of government cover-ups as related to life in space continue to pop up, and not
just with the conspiracy theorists.
All this begs the question: how long can we deny the very
real probability that we are not alone in the Universe? And more, do we want to do that
anymore?
I believe the universe teems with life. I choose to trust that kind and
intelligent Yoda and Obi Wan Kenobi types wait to help us transition to a
peaceful life. Besides, I want to
learn that regenerating trick for daisies from E.T. I hope he comes back to visit, soon.
9 comments:
Hey, I'm with you, Ashantay. My daisies could stand regenerating:)
I've gradually come to the conclusion any beings able to develop space travel and arrive here can't be fearsome destroy everything, rape the Earth, kill humanity types, but explorers like we would want to fashion ourselves.
Interesting post. Space has always fascinated me. Am off to look for Mars photos.
Monti
Mary Montague Sikes
I think that many people fear space beings because they believe them to be like us - warlike. After all, we tend to picture things based on our own experiences. I would welcome these beings with open arms. I believe them to be peaceful and more spiritually advanced than we are, not just technologically advanced. And if their skin is blue like in Avatar - my favorite film - so much the better :)
Sandra - the daisies, and a flying bike - my two favorite scenes in that movie!
Rhobin - don't you wonder how beings who can cross the universe could get captured by our mostly planet bound military?
Monti - will try to add a link to a really cool video on getting to Mars for you.
Chris - I agree - we identify with what we know about ourselves. Blue skin? Hmm - think I'd like a nice emerald green for myself...
Space family?? Have you been to my office? To the grocery store? To Walmart? Trust me, the aliens are among us.
Robin, you are so right!
Great article Ashantay. Yes, I feel we are not the only living thing on these planets. I feel there are many life forms out there and who knows maybe when we die here we go to another planet as a different life form! One never knows how it all works.
I always enjoy reading your articles. Myra
Thank you, Myra!
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