1. I did NOT refer (in post 17270) to redirecting asteroids. I talked about
emigrating (leaving) this planet and populating planets in other star systems. If you
doubt me, check the post again.
I know you didn't talk about asteroids, Terrence. I was spinning my response off on something I wanted to talk about--asteroids. But my point, which I stick by, is that technology may be good, but has the potential to destroy everyone and everything.
2. You spoke of the "double-edged sword" of technology. Well, what of the
double-edged sword of nature? Nature has a tendency to wipe out species. That's
why if humans want to exist long-term (say another few million years or so) we
need to direct our own destiny and evolution, and not leave it to the vagaries of
chance and nature.
Nature's destruction is, um, natural!!! One evil man cannot control the fate of mankind by natural means, only technological ones. If you follow, "first do no harm", I think I prefer nature.
3. Yes it was wrong the way the colonization of North America took place, but I
don't think your solution would be any better. BTW, I'm sure you know that it
certainly wasn't the first, nor will it be the last. The object of the game is to try not to
be on the receiving end.
Thank you for finally acknowledging that the colonization of North America was wrong in its methods. Sometimes when you are being a little silly I cannot find the humanity behind the man, so to speak, and so I end up polarizing my comments as well.
The object of the game IS to try not to be on the receiving end, agreed. But I do not see what was wrong with carving out some pretty huge chunks of America WHERE VARIOUS TRIBES ACTUALLY LIVED and sharing it with them. They were more ethical about keeping treaties than we were!!
As a matter of fact, the human race itself may do it again when we begin to cross
the paths of alien races in space. I predict that in the long run we will
conquer/assimilate alien races that are inferior to us or whose planet(s) have enough
strategic importance. God save us from a more advanced one - and their
missionaries! I don't believe a Trek type of 'Prime Directive' will hold (assuming it is
even implemented). We (our race) are too aggressive and competitive.
Yes, God save us from missionaries of all kinds!!! Do you think perhaps our karma is bad, though, and this may be in store for us? Does rationalism have any concepts which include karma, on an individual or societal basis?
4. Finally, as you consider the customs and morality and ethics of the 18th and 19th
centuries to be barbaric, believe me, my dear, people of the 25th Century will no
doubt find our "modern" world barbaric - especially the insanity of political
correctness and social workers.
Social workers? They do save some children from being starved and beaten to death in their families--is something wrong with that? My own problem with social workers is not that they exist, but that they are not effective enough. About 4,000 children each year still die in the United States from abuse, and sadly, many of these children are in families which have come to the attention of social workers.
You know me, Terrence--I have a reputation for being politically correct. I am not at all, really, though. I suspect there will be more, not less, political correctness as time goes on, however.
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