Posted by
Sam Heath on Sunday, February 03, 2008 7:58:10 PM
It was an interesting touch in “Contact” when those deciphered messages transmitted to earth from the star Vega showed a Swastika flag and Hitler giving a speech during the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. But as Carl Sagan pointed out, we don’t know what information other civilizations if they exist might pick up from earth. We can hope, of course, their first impressions won’t be based on Hitler.
There is a cautionary word in all this, something many people have pointed out regarding SETI; that we should be very careful what information is being transmitted into space for other intelligences to decipher about us, but the Beatles? WASHINGTON - The Beatles are about to become radio stars in a whole new way. NASA on Monday will broadcast the Beatles’ song “Across the Universe” across the galaxy to Polaris, the North Star. This first-ever beaming of a radio song by the space agency directly into deep space is nostalgia-driven. It celebrates the 40th anniversary of the song, the 45th anniversary of NASA’s Deep Space Network, which communicates with its distant probes, and the 50th anniversary of NASA…
Now I liked much of the Beatles’ music, but I disagree with those at NASA. Why not Mozart? Wouldn’t that put a better face on our degree of civilization than some Beatles’ tune notwithstanding the case made for this one? However, I know some hard core fans that swear the Beatles actually speak for all humankind and will not be dissuaded. For that matter, I don’t doubt some at NASA believe Willie Nelson or Frank Sinatra would be the better choice. The point being if a message is to be sent to potential civilizations around Polaris or in galaxies far, far away just who gets to make the decision about this? As the article points out NASA isn’t immune to commercial interests though following the money can be difficult in all government agencies.
But we are told it would take 431 years for the song to arrive at Polaris, so why worry about it? It isn’t like it should be of any immediate concern, and unlike the Vegans in Contact the “Polarians” if they exist might not have the ability or means to make anything of it. However, there is still the matter of considering what other civilizations would make of us earthlings if they are listening to or spying on our planet? Would it result in something like “The Day the Earth Stood Still” and a stern warning from Klaatu, or possibly an assault and occupation or worse? While it’s impossible to put ourselves in the shoes of some extraterrestrial and see things from their point of view, it would be difficult to believe any superior civilization could possibly fail to see humankind as anything but a barbarous, violent and murderous species deserving of extermination.
There were sound reasons for both Benjamin Franklin and Samuel Clemens believing our species not deserving preservation; that because of our history of horrors with no promise of widespread humane and compassionate improvement humankind ought to become extinct. And, if one were to look at politicians for example as a distinct species who could possibly disagree? Some would include lawyers in this category, but whether or not there are definitely some species that seem to be asking for extinction; but humankind as a whole?
If Polarians or other extraterrestrials were to judge us solely on the basis of a Beatles’ song that might not be so bad, but what if they are watching American TV and making their decision on whether to annihilate us or not on that basis? Bad enough the Bible has it the violence was so bad in Noah’s time God was sorry he even created man and decided to make a literal wash of the whole affair. One may reasonably question whether the Deity was so naive as to expect better of Noah and his sons, but in no time at all humans were back in the business of slaughtering each other wholesale; and the book of Revelation paints a dim picture of our chances of surviving Armageddon. And it will be interesting to find out if those ancient Mayans might have been on to something; 2012 isn’t far off.
Walt Kelly had Churchy in “Pogo” reading a comic book about Martians destroying the earth but Porkypine tells him not to worry, that we could do the job ourselves without any help from outsiders. While Churchy was relieved to hear that I believe Walt had a pretty good handle on the situation. So, what the heck; put on a happy face and consider the bright side like Porkypine and Churchy whether we will beat the Martians, Polarians or whoever to the punch.