Proof of intelligence?
~ not so fast; as a species at war with Itself, why can't we see this absurdity?
If an alien arrived today, scanning our planet for proof of intelligence, what would they see first?
Would they notice breathtaking libraries, brilliant technology, cures for once-fatal diseases, or would they see an endless parade of tanks, bombs, and soldiers we keep polishing for the next fight under the guise of keeping the peace, when we know decision makers in office lack the capacity to see the obvious and do something about it?
Aliens would ask a fair question: how can a species so inventive, so resourceful, pour so much treasure and talent into the business of killing?
They would wonder why people with every reason to get along, with shared markets, shared climate, shared humanity, choose instead to arm themselves for destruction.
And here is the uncomfortable part: if outsiders could see this contradiction instantly, why can’t we?
Maybe it is fear, maybe pride, maybe profit.
Maybe we have never grown out of the playground instinct to punch before we think.
We can guess at reasons, but honesty requires us to admit something darker: we don’t really know why we keep doing this.
And stranger still, we aren’t trying very hard to find out.
If the resources poured into missiles were poured into figuring out the roots of conflict itself, would we already be living in a different world?
If we can understand the viewpoint of the imaginary alien being able to easily see our collective absurdity, why can’t we?
Fellow inhabitants of this planet - all of you, please recognize that until we face the why, we’ll never earn the right to call ourselves a wise population.
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