When I was
little, there was nothing more fulfilling than watching the night sky with the
moon smiling down at me (nowadays it grimaces but that’s another story
altogether). That feeling of my heart about to burst was indescribable as I sat
there hoping to catch a glimpse of that bright ray of light cruising through blue
velvet, its passengers jet-setting to distant galaxies. I would have done
anything for a miniscule sign that aliens existed. My parents were worried, hoping
that I wouldn’t start a cult as I later wrote stories, read books and became an
X-File fanatic, trying to convert all my friends. Unfortunately, I’ve grown up
now and Agent Molder’s 90’s hairstyle and theories along with Scully and her
exasperating whistle have become rather disappointing.
No matter
what culture or background, people from all over the world have claimed to have
seen visitors from outer space. Between 1950 and 1970, many stories started
circulating in Malaysia about tiny 3 inch aliens that landed in school
compounds dressed in high tech suits and wielding ray guns. (Check out
abovetopsecret.com) I find it interesting that they only appeared around
schools, as there are theories that they search out high levels of energy and
knowledge is a form of energy. Why they go around squishing American corn is
beyond me though.
As a
writer, I like to believe in strange things but I also like to pick at them
with my mental chopsticks. I scrutinize the paranormal and try to find things
that are wrong with photos or videos that I see on the web. Nowadays, with
photoshop and friends, there isn’t really any way for normal readers to verify
the authentic nature of anything. We just have to want to believe it or not.
It’s like the time the rumour that Big Foot had been spotted in the jungles of Malaysia
started going around and everyone was criticizing the Malaysian “tendency to exaggerate”.
I could have joined the masses and made fun of those people who mistook an Orangutan
with bad teeth for a Yeti but I was just too busy laughing at the idea of the
Malaysian remake of Harry and the Hendersons.
So what is
it that fuels our need to believe in alien life form? Crop circles, Area 51,
theories about the Mayans and our creators and our own willingness to invest
billions in space exploration are but a few examples of crazy. Millions of movies
have been made about our space cousins, some depicting their greatness and
others reflecting our own wickedness. (Avatar the Movie was a typical depiction
of cowboys and Native Americans, the British and their previous exploits all
over the world etc….I shall stop before someone decides to ban me but you get
the picture.)
“This is an
extermination”—War of the Worlds.
Most people
think it’s madness, others find that it would be rather selfish of us to think
that we’re the only ones residing in infinity and the rest, well visit a Sci-fi
convention and you’ll know what I mean. Personally, I would like to believe
that there are other worlds out there, with people living their lives just like
us, with the same problems we have (like deciding which outfit goes better with
tentacles) and the same feelings.
However, I
don’t think it would be a good idea for them to meet us, even though I’ve been
wishing it my whole life. If there were other life forms out there, how would
we get along with them if we can’t even get along with each other? War and famine
are skulking through the Blue Planet and all we can do is sit around and read
about it. I would really love to see the day when people decide to spend the
millions being used for Astrobiology on finding ways to feed our own people. It
breaks my heart to think that there are hungry children around the world while
the big guys are shooting their space shuttles into the vast darkness to find
yet another thing that they can destroy. If aliens do find us, with their superior
intellect, they might think us extremely lacking. I really don’t want to be the
one that has to sit them down and explain the necessity of reality shows and
botox.
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