The key to a brighter future?


Back when space exploration was a big deal (late '70s and early '80s) the world was recovering from a seemingly endless progression of wars and violence that had been part of the twentieth century since it had begun: the Boer War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Falklands - not to forget the ongoing African, Asian, Middle East and South American conflicts.

As a child growing up during this time I saw the world as largely peaceful, as our former aggression turned to competition in leading the race in science and exploration - especially space exploration. Okay so this was the view of a child with little understanding of the world, its religions and politics, but it was a view that was encouraged by the state of the world at that time.

Now I'm a father I've started looking around the world and despairing at the general state of things (more wars on more continents than I'd even heard of as a child; terrible crimes, greed and violence). I don't particularly want my children growing up with Al Qaeda, Enron, Iraq, Ian Huntley/Maxine Carr and September 11th as formative memories. I really want my children to retain their innocence and sense of wonder, as I was lucky enough to do so, rather than develop cynicism and apathy.

Perhaps then events such as the recent SpaceShipOne flight, the continuing Ansari X challenge and China's emergence as a space exploring nation will rekindle the competition that we seem to need in order to evolve as a species. I, for one, really hope so...

Posted: Fri - July 2, 2004 at 03:54 PM        

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