Aliens and Us!

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Stephen Hawking; the scientific authority of our generation; has advised us to avoid trying to seek out aliens from space. His reasons for avoiding our contacts with them (aliens) is based on our inglorious history of the so-called civilized West; when they discovered the two American continents. It was a saga of exploitation, butchery and inhumanity shown by these adventurers and subsequent settlers.
If 'Aliens' on coming to Earth, follow the same trend, and if they are technically superior to us; then may be we are looking into possibilities of harsh and very violent times ahead. It all depends on the mental attitude and moral maturity of the 'Aliens'; coming from the stars beyond our horizon of knowledge and comprehension. Maybe, in this respect, Hawking's anology could then be well justified!
Like the usual interaction between dis-similar civilizations and social orders or races; there is every possibility of subjugation, conflict and eventually peaceful coexistence. Colour, racial and religious differences are even today patterned along these lines. We on Earth, living sometimes in conflict and more often in peace and harmony; have Asians, Caucasians, Europeans, Eskimos and other divisions based on socio-geographic characterstics.
Even on Earth, there always was and still is exploitation of resources, and uncalled for wars and conflicts for grabbing natural resources. Prime examples are; the historical British Empire; born out of exploitation and subjugation, and now living as the British Commonwealth in peaceful harmony. The American mis-adventure in Middle East today; though garbed in political terminologies and based on lies and propaganda costing thousands and thousands of lives; is all centered on the need and greed for oil and other unexplored mineral wealth; and nothing else!
Already we live in a social order; where after all is said and done; might is right; in the garb of cycles violence followed by dogmas of righteousness; where Middle East can be called the boxing ring or the gladiator's arena!
May be the Aliens will come and size up the mighty and powerful nations; and make them eat humble pie! They may possibly resolve the present conflict and confontation of the East and West; both visible and unvisible! Will that usher in peace on Earth foretold by our earlier ansestors?

S. A. Mansoor
Dhaka
E-mail: sam07@dhakacom.com