Re: [GZG] A number of scientists respond to Hawking's concerns about Aliens

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Gzg-l mailing list
Gzg-l@mail.csua.berkeley.edu
http://mail.csua.berkeley.edu:8080/mailman/listinfo/gzg-lWhen we came to
your planet, you reguarded us with apprehension.  This is
understandable.  We are, after all, a previously unknown factor -
foreign - alien.  And it's natural to reguard with apprehension that
which is unknown.  But even when we reveled to you that we are beings
not unlike you, with motivations not dissimilar to yours, some
apprehension remains.  This too is understandable.  

We learned, from your history, that there were instances where a more
technologically advanced culture encounted a less technologically
advanced culture.  Not all of these meetings ended happily or even
peacefully.  

There were instances where the more advanced culture dominated or even
enslaved the people of the less advanced culture, abrogating their
destinies to no more than subjects to a master.  

There were instances where the more advanced culture stole or squandered
the physical resources belonging to the less advanced culture, selfishly
benefiting themselves while affording little to theie victims. 

And there were instances where the less advanced culture was assimilated
into the body of the more advanced, leaving a rich and unique culture
fragmented and ruined.	

And you reguarded the memories of these instances with shame and
mortification, and so you quietly resolved that if you were ever to
journey out into the stars, and encounter new and unique cultures, you
would not make the same mistakes.  

In our history, we too have had instances not unlike these, that we too
reguarded with shame and mortification, and we quietly resolved that
when we journey out into the stars to encounter new and unique cultures,
we don't make the same mistakes.  And for the most part, we have held to
this resolve.  

We have come to your planet not to dominate or enslave, but to offer the
hand of friendship and cooperation, to help you solve the problems the
plague you and in exchange gain insight into solving the problems that
still plaque us.  

We have come not steal or squander your resources, but to trade fairly
for them and in exchange offer our own resources to your benefit.  

We have come not to assimilate your culture into ours, but to allow your
unique culture to enrich ours and in exchange we offer the best of our
culture to be used by you as you see fit.  

In this first, of we hope many, diplomatic missions, we have exchanced
diplomatic niceties, trade goods, given and received gifts of music,
art, entertanment, and information, and we judqe the mission to be a
success.  

Our first image of your culture, received at a distance, was in the form
of a song - the opening song from the video program, "Baywatch".  We end
this mission with an appropriate ending - the final line of dialogue
from the feature-length video, "Casablanca" - "This looks like the
begining of a beautiful friendship!"  

 - excerpt from "This Is Not Science Fiction!!" by Jack Colby - (rough
draft in progress)  

JBrewer@webtv.net  

"Always strive to be a good person.  If you can't do that, at least
strive to be someone other than an asshole."