fisher@dvinci.DEC (Burns Fisher, MRO3-1/E13, 231-4108) (03/15/84)
I am tired of hearing arguments like "why not spend money to do some good here
on earth instead of throwing it away in space." Reaching out, stretching
beyond our capabilities, spending effort on activities that are beyond what is
required just for existence is a large part of what makes us human.
How many of us wish that the great cathedrals of the middle ages had never been
built? Yet the equivalent of millions of dollars were spent on them in the
midst of enormous poverty.
What finally broke the cycle of the Dark Ages? Not stopping work on frivilous
pursuits! It was the Renaissance...the epitome of impracticality. All that
work put into non-food things like music, paintings, and buildings!
Now don't get me wrong...I am certainly not advocating ignoring the unfortunate.
Another large part of being human is having compassion. What I am saying is
that it is not an choice of one or the other; they should be companions. If we
refuse to reach out to accept the challenge of space, we are denying our
humanity just as thoroughly as if we abandon a neighbor or a fellow world
citizen in need.
<climb down off soapbox>
Burns
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