The Next Big Threat

In this era of terrorism, what is often overlooked is a very plausible astronomical disaster that could occur within the next twenty-five to thirty years. It is the same sort of disaster that, it has been hypothesized, caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. What I am referring to is the real possibility that our planet could be hit by an asteroid.

If, by chance, an asteroid hit the earth, it would produce an effect nearly 1000 times of any weapon, nuclear or otherwise that we have developed by human means.

Perhaps this cosmic threat will unify us together. Perhaps a common enemy is the only way to bring together the warring factions of earth who would otherwise be too busy wiping each other out.

There are times where I also wish that aliens would make contact with us because that too would unify the human race together under a common purpose. As it stands right now, factionalism and tribalism keep us often at odds with each other. The population of the earth swells exponentially and grows like a cancer. I think increasingly we will see continued fragmentation amongst the human race.

The question remains: why haven't we made more of a big deal out of this threat? The simple answer is that it remains an abstraction for most people. 11 September, other terrorist attacks, and suicide bombers are in the back of our minds. They are tangible. They are concrete. We can visualize them easily. They fit nicely into position statements and television soundbites.

By contrast, most people can't even begin to fathom what it would be like if we were to experience a disaster not spawned by ourselves. We're such selfish beings--that's just how we're wired. We are biologically programmed to care for ourselves first, then our immediate family, then our friends. That's the reason why Christianity and other religions were developed. They force us to care for our fellow brother or sister. They get us out of our own heads and our own petty whims.

After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans nearly two years ago, I remember thinking just how vulnerable we human beings are to the whims of nature. We often deceive ourselves into believing that we are in control of our own destiny. Then Mother Nature rears her ugly head and we realize that despite all the advances we have made, we are still utterly powerless to avoid natural disasters.

To expand the metaphor further, think about how finicky and fragile we human beings really are. 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit is considered average body temperature, but with an increased change of only a few degrees we are rendered sick and immobilized. We think nothing of, say, five degrees change in the weather outside but five degrees in body temperature can be the difference between life and death, sickness and health.

When I was in undergrad, I remember being forced to read Virgil's Aeneid. One line in particular stands out to me: Humans make plans, and the Gods laugh.

We have strained and struggled during our time on earth to form a so-called civilization with rules and laws and codes of conduct. We have made phenomenal progress in the fields of medicine and science. We've sought more humane ways of punishing those who commit murder. We've made alliances to prevent wars. These are just a few examples. I could name 100 other artifices we have created in the name of improving ourselves and getting along with each other.

One disaster could undo it all.

When I think about this I am compelled not to duck and cover but to examine my own life. It serves as a wake up call to me, revealing once again that I'm a finite being with a limited amount of time on earth. If I want to accomplish something positive, I better get on with it.