Hawking Up Something Deep

HONG KONG (AP) - The survival of the human race depends on its ability to find new homes elsewhere in the universe because there's an increasing risk that a disaster will destroy the Earth, world-renowned scientist Stephen Hawking said Tuesday.

The British astrophysicist told a news conference in Hong Kong that humans could have a permanent base on the moon in 20 years and a colony on Mars in the next 40 years.

"We won't find anywhere as nice as Earth unless we go to another star system," added Hawking, who arrived to a rock star's welcome.

"It is important for the human race to spread out into space for the survival of the species," Hawking said. "Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers we have not yet thought of."

Let me go out on a limb here and guess that I'm not as smart as Mr Hawking. No... really.

Still, I have an opinion that I feel is as relevant as Mr. Hawking's. (Steve, as we call him in Greentown)
I see two possibilities here.

1. Earth and the human race are creations of God. Everything that happens is part of His plan. We need fear no meteor, disease, climate change, or bomb any more than we need fear death because... this ain't the party.

2. Earth and the human race are accidents in a universe that just happens to exist. So it really doesn't matter whether we ultimately survive. One way or another mankind will probably go the way of the dinosaurs so what does it matter when? And if we're just animals, does it matter at all?

It's fun to think about outposts on gamma beta 5. But I know in my heart that if it happens... It too will be just part of the plan.