Stephen Hawking, Aliens and Gratitude

I have been saying for years, "We don't need to take our show on the road because we can't get our act together down here."

Now Professor Stephen W. Hawking gives us something more to thnk about. Here is a quote from Professor Hawking from the April 26th, Christian Science Monitor Online.

"In a new Discovery Channel documentary to be aired in May, renowned astrophysicist Dr. Hawking suggests that with 100 billion galaxies in the universe it seems “perfectly rational” that aliens exist. While they are most probably microorganisms or basic animals, he suggests the threat posed by intelligent life forms, if they exist, could make reaching out to them “a little too risky.”

“We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn’t want to meet. I imagine they might exist in massive ships, having used up all the resources from their home planet. Such advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads, looking to conquer and colonize whatever planets they can reach,” he said. “If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn’t turn out very well for the native Americans.”

I think he makes a good point. And I think this last phrase struck an uncomfortable nerve with many people.

And I have always thought corporations want the U.S. government to pay for space exploration, so corporations can have access to a fresh supply of resources and make more money.

Many people don't want what continues to happen to indigenious people all over the world to happen to them. A fine example of "dishing it out, but not being able to take it."

Which brings me to my main point - Peace-loving people don't migrate to other areas. They stay home. And enjoy family, friends, celebrations and keeping a pleasant place to live. They have gratitiude for what they have.

When people migrate to other lands, it is because of factors that make life back home unpleasant. For peace-loving people to move, the natural ecosystem of their homeland would have to fail or they were being oppressed.

 If this is so, Why are so many Americans looking to go into space?

Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

The Red Columbine is so graceful and so lovely. I took this photograph in my garden. The late afternoon sun was sinking in the sky and the soft light illuminated the form of the blossom. 

I was first attracted to this plant when I saw a stand of yellow Columbine growing in the shade of a house here in Philadelphia. I wanted to grow the beautiful hanging flowers in my own garden. 

In my garden, it is among the earliest bloomers. The hanging blossoms attract hummingbirds to the sweet nectar within. Long-tongued hummingbirds and bees are it’s pollinators. Red Columbine blooms from March to July, which is a good long time for a plant. 

This native plant looks delicate but is quite hardy and can live 2-5 years. I have seen it growing out of what seems to be solid rock. The seeds of the plant probably lodged in a pocket of soil and just start growing. The plant readily reseeds. So, if you plant it in a good spot it may drop seeds for many years and a stand of the plants may live for along time, multiplying and spreading.

Red Columbine is native to eastern and central North America.  It is endangered in Florida. The plant can be found in rich, moist woods to rocky outcroppings.

The species which is pictured here has naturally red and yellow flowers. The garden cultivars focus on changing the shades of yellow and red. It is a easily found in garden centers and even big box home improvement stores.

Earth Day - #40

Rhododendron, originally uploaded by donnallong.

Earth Day can be a day of gratitude, respect and thanksgiving.

It is a day to ponder how we are nothing without the Earth. How we are bags of water walking around on a blue-green planet covered with water.

What a thing to ponder. Water bags on a water planet.

How long have we been asleep? How long have we avoided the truth of who we are?

I wake up in the morning and I give thanks.

I give thanks for the life that is in all living beings.
I give thanks for the good things we have.
I give thanks that I have a chance to grow a little bit each day.

Wado.

A Rhododendron in my garden.