barb@oliven.UUCP (Barbara Jernigan) (03/06/86)
A lot of flaming has been going back and forth whether or not colonization
of space means survival of the species -- and using/opposing that argument to
justify the manned space program. Both sides have their point: eggs are
safer when they're not in one basket -- long range thinking on the 100 million-
year scale is a tad silly.
Well, although I agree with the need to fly from the nest of Mother Earth,
my *REAL* reason for wanting to explore space is (compulsive) CURIOSITY. That
there are financial and species-preservational gains is also nice -- but, it's
icing on the (interstellar) cake.
We humans (or some of us, anyway) don't much like the prospect of having
everything known and measured (though we're a damn sight away from that
on earth, the territory no longer seems as virgin). Now, above us,
beckonning with the whispered, seductive voices of our imaginations, are the
stars. And, true to our native species, we want to GO!!!
Those that have heard the Call, understand (though we try to cloak the
DESIRE in the respectable clothing of justifications). Those that have not
label us irresponsible and crazy (and perhaps they're right).
It *is* a cult -- a religion of wanting to KNOW, driving us to push the limits
of our experience lest life become too mundane.
Continue to justify -- we need the funding, and funding in this bureaucratic
world must have "reason." But know, in our heart-of-hearts, the Truth --
the need to explore new frontiers is part of Who and What we are.
Barb
...from depths unseen and dreams undreamt, I sing
the gleaming cantos of unvanquished space...
-- Berke Breathedmike@peregrine.UUCP (Mike Wexler) (03/08/86)
In article <525@oliven.UUCP> barb@oliven.UUCP (Barbara Jernigan) writes: >A lot of flaming has been going back and forth whether or not colonization >of space means survival of the species -- and using/opposing that argument to >justify the manned space program. Both sides have their point: eggs are >safer when they're not in one basket -- long range thinking on the 100 million- >year scale is a tad silly. > >Well, although I agree with the need to fly from the nest of Mother Earth, >my *REAL* reason for wanting to explore space is (compulsive) CURIOSITY. That >there are financial and species-preservational gains is also nice -- but, it's >icing on the (interstellar) cake. A point I think you are missing here is that this curiousity is what has led us to discover and invent new things in the past. That without this curiousity financial and species-preservational gains are impossible. Without this curiousity we would never discover new resources and ways to use existing resources more efficiently. >Those that have heard the Call, understand (though we try to cloak the >DESIRE in the respectable clothing of justifications). Those that have not >label us irresponsible and crazy (and perhaps they're right). > >It *is* a cult -- a religion of wanting to KNOW, driving us to push the limits >of our experience lest life become too mundane. > >Continue to justify -- we need the funding, and funding in this bureaucratic >world must have "reason." But know, in our heart-of-hearts, the Truth -- >the need to explore new frontiers is part of Who and What we are. I agree that the reason people explore is not for profit/race preservation, but those are side benefits that are accomplished only when exploration is done. -- Mike Wexler (trwrb|scgvaxd)!felix!peregrine!mike (714)855-3923 All of the preceding opinions are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of any other being, sentient or abstract.