http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3822470Oh my.
Oscar Wilde, the large-proboscised primitive, the one with lace cuffs and ruffled bed-covers and a canopied bed and hand-embroidered handkerchiefs:
Cyrano Donating Member (1000+ posts) Tue Aug-19-08 03:14 PM
Original message
Will humanity survive its adolescence?
In the movie “Contact†starring Jodie Foster, (adapted from Carl Sagan’s book of the same name), there is a moment where candidates for the first encounter with non-earthly intelligence are being interviewed. They are questioned as to what their first question would be if the mission succeeded.
In the film, Jodie Foster replied, “I would ask them how they did it.â€
“Did what?†asks one of her interrogators.
“Survived their adolescence,†was her reply.
So my question here is: Will we humans who are currently living on planet Earth survive our adolescence?
Given human history, who knows? Every time thought, reason, intelligence, deduction and knowledge have converged to advance our species, a counter-force of ignorance, intolerance and greed have always been there to oppose it. And the reverse is also true.
The Renaissance occurred on the very heels of the Inquisition. The “American Century†came about upon the defeat of German/Italian/Japanese fascism and imperialism. And that was quickly followed by the rise of the USSR. Perhaps each occurrence caused or enhanced the possibility for what followed.
So after 40 years of “American totalitarianism†which was incrementally advanced under Nixon, Reagan, Bush I, and Bush II, (with the brief interludes of Jimmy Carter’s four years during which truth-telling got us nowhere, and Bill Clinton’s eight years, -- six of which he had to deal with a Republican run congress), we are now a country that could fairly be called a fascist enterprise.
Which brings us to this year’s election. No one here needs to be convinced that we need a Democrat in the White House. Will it happen? Beats me. Stupidity and/or lack of information makes the American public an unwilling ally to those who oppress them (and the rest of us).
My biggest fear is letting McCain anywhere near having control of nuclear weapons. We’ve read in many places about his temper, his occasional irrationality, and his habit of listening to the advice of whoever happened to be the last person with whom he spoke. What sane person would cast a vote to put this man in a position of absolute power?
Which brings me back to the question in the headline: “Will humanity survive its adolescence?†Given the Rethug’s ability to “win†elections through lies, deception, playing to fears and hatreds, and through outright theft, I really fear the outcome this November.
So, what about you? Do you think we’ll survive our adolescence?
This is a brand-new bonfire, just lit up, no primitives at it yet.
I'm always reluctant to post brand-new bonfires of the primitives, because once it gets over here, the primitives tend to shy away from that bonfire, fearful that they might be quoted.....and so nothing develops.
I'm happy to make an exception in this case, though; this bonfire is so stupid that killing it would be an act of mercy and compassion.
