The following is an excerpt from a debate aired on EGB
(Earth's Global Network). The show was hosted by prominent news correspondent
Walter Greenbough (WB). Participants include leading ecologist of the Seven
Hearth Project, Doctor Katherine Brianne Heart (KBH), and colony activist, David
Willhouse (DW).
DW: "It's an animal pen, that's what it is. A sizeable one,
but still just some fenced in area where we're allowed to graze. At least until
all the minerals are used up and we metaphorically starve to death."
KBH: "I think that's a little harsh."
DW: "I think it's dead on."
KBH: "Okay, let's just say it is. Did you ever consider we
are just animals? If we greedily eat all the grass without giving it time to
replenish, well then maybe we deserve to die."
DW: "Not all resources are replenishable."
KBH: "That's all the more reason to be careful with what we
do have. Look at the kazire. They've existed for longer than us and don't have
the same problems. They say that they have a symbiosis with the universe.
Meanwhile we just strip it dry as fast as we can."
DW: "I personally don't believe everything they tell us.
There is more to them then they're letting on."
KBH: "I don't see any reason to doubt their sincerity."
DW: "Really? Then how do you interpret their threat of the
fact unless we maintain and correspond with the Solar Marks they'll wipe out all
life in the system? Where is this 'infinite mercy' their always claiming in
that?"
KBH: "I'll admit that may be a bit extreme, but let's not
forget this is a matter of survival for them. With their ability of Material
Manifestation they could easily be killed upon materialization without the Solar
Marks."
DW: "A matter of life and death ... yes. And let's not forget
how they've said if failure to properly maintain the Solar Marks in a system
results in any kazire death, not only will they destroy all life in that system
but they'll also kill twice as many humans as those that were lost from a random
source of their choosing."
KBH: [Raises hand] "I've already conceded the point that this
is an extreme measure ... by our starndards. But let us not forget,
they're not human. They're aliens with an alien culture. There are bound
to be some differences in meanings. Their definition of mercy may very well be
different than ours."
DW: "'Their definition'? Let's not forget they're fluent in
our language. These stipulations were written out in our language. I highly
doubt they could have articulated themselves so well without knowing what
they're saying."
KBH: "Yes, and while impressive they can speak our language
so well, it is not their native tongue. Translation discrepancies aren't exactly
unheard of."
DW: "So you'll admit then they have no merciful intentions?"
KBH: "That's not what I said. I simply meant that their
concept of mercy may be different."
WB: "I'm going to interrupt you two here. I believe we're
getting off topic. We're not here today to debate the mercy of the kazire.
Today's topic relates to the stipulations given and their effect on Earth. Now
the topic of the Solar Marks came up. From my understanding they're easy to
maintain and also help boost long range communications. Do you have any problems
with them?"
KBH: "On the contrary, I think they can be a great benefit to
humankind."
DW: "That's only because you chose to ignore the risks. They
rely heavily on alien technology we haven't been able to reproduce yet. That
means if something goes wrong, a simple loose wire, an entire system could be
wiped out as a result."
KBH: "Now you're getting ridiculous. If such a problem were
to arise, the station could simply radio it in to avoid conflict. There is only
a couple second delay between any two stations. The kazire could be notified in
a couple minutes, tops, allowing the problem to be easily resolved."
DW: "A couple minutes in which disaster could strike. And
what if something were to go wrong with the communications as well?"
KBH: "They run on two completely different systems. Then
there are the back-up systems for the back-up systems. Such a situation is
virtually impossible."
DW: "'Nearly' ... so it is possible?"
KBH: "Technically, yes. But --"
DW: "Thank you very much for confirming my fears."
KBH: "While it is possible, it is still highly unlikely. And
the benefits easily out weight the remote and negligible risks. Increased
communications and access to advanced technology are benefits we shouldn't
ignore either."
DW: "Advanced technology we can't figure out and are not
allowed to touch."
KBH: "We don't have to be able to touch it to learn from it.
While it may still be beyond our capabilities, simply monitoring it has given us
a world of insight. We're getting scientific theories we never even dreamed of
before just by seeing it work! This could open the door for a whole new age of
humankind."
DW: "Yes, and with their alleged level of technology, the
devices do seem exceedingly large. It makes me wonder what other purposes it may
serve."
KBH: "'Other purposes'?" Now you're just sounding paranoid."
DW: "Am I? Am I really?"
KBH: "Yes! They'd have no reason to hide their intentions.
It's not like they have anything to fear from doing something in the open."
DW: "I disagree. I think they're very scared of us."
KBH: "Scared? They could wipe out every last human and there
wouldn't be one [censor][censor] think we could do about it."
WB: "I'll ask both individuals to please watch their
languages. We are being transmitted globally as well as the colonies."
KBH: "I apologize. I should have shown more restraint."
DW: "I'll grant they're powerful and at current we would be
powerless. But I don't believe this is about what we can do; it's about what we
may be capable of doing if given the chance to properly evolve. It's our
potential they're scared of."
KBH: "If they were really so scared, then why didn't they
just kill us all and be done with it? Why take the chance?"
DW: "Perhaps they can't kill us."
KBH: "You saw what they were capable of, as did everyone else
on the planet."
DW: "Oh, I don't doubt their capability; I said they 'can't.'
In other words, something is stopping them."
KBH: "This isn't some movie where some magic spell is
protecting us so we can one day save the universe."
DW: "Please doc-tor, I would have expected something
more logical and scientific from you. No one is trying to argue humanity will be
the saviors of the universe; merely that we have the right to live in it freely.
As for your 'magic spell', I was thinking of something more based upon real life
concepts. Perhaps some type of Intergalactic Alliance which helps to keep each
other in check. Or maybe some type of Interstellar Law which everyone has to
obey because breaking it would lead to problems from the other races. Even the
most powerful race may have to follow it because breaking it will lead to
descent. One race may not be powerful enough on its own to enforce it, but in
large numbers even the smallest opponent can become a threat."
KBH: "Okay, I was being sarcastic and I shouldn't have been.
Regardless of that fact, this is still just wild theory. You have no proof to
back it up."
DW: "They claim to be merciful, but I believe these
stipulations are little more than an excuse to try and destroy us. Every single
stipulation has the possibility of death attached to it."
KBH: "Maybe that's because they see our 'potential' as
destroying the universe and they'll protect it by any means necessary, even if
it may be distasteful."
DW: "I think you're being overly optimistic."
KBH: "They're not humans! Not ever race's first thoughts are
to war!"
DW: "Agreed. But in reflection, not every race's first
thoughts are to peace."
WB: "I'm going to have to break this up now as we are almost
out of time. Final thoughts from both panelists please, starting with Mr.
Willhouse."
DW: "These stipulations effectively put us in a cage. Even a
pleasant cage is still a cage. Unless we do something soon, we'll find what we
thought to be a roomy cage to be stifling. Our resources will be limited or
spent and there will be nothing we can do about it then. We may not be perfect,
but we deserve the chance to grow."
KBH: "Human babies are places in cribs. Well, this is
humanities crib. It's large enough we can grow without hurting others while we
make mistakes, falling as we learn to walk. One day this crib may become too
small, but right now it is plentiful. Let us worry about what we can instead of
things we have no power over. Let's deal with what twill happen when you're big
enough to leave the crib when the time comes, not before. I believe when that
time comes we will know what to do. Until that time, let's try not to bite off
more than we can chew and be happy with what we have."
WB: "That's all we have time for today. This has been another
episode of World News Forum. I'm Walter Greenbough, signing off." [End
transmission]
