It is said that we are in the last days. It is quite possible that we are.
Astronomer Carl Sagan came up with a formula for calculating the probability of intelligent life in the universe. In short, estimate the number of planets, and calculate the tiny fraction that may support life and have had enough evolution to produce intelligence. He further went on to add one other factor- probability of extinction. The existence of intelligence depends not only on creation but also on continuance.
After reading this theory, I found it very noteworthy, although, I am no philosopher myself so like Plato and the tales of the worlds’ creation; I choose not to agree absolutely.
I just believed that such an interesting theory deserved the acknowledgement and criticism of public opinion, especially with the recent events in the world.
So, what is the probability that we as intelligent humans will not destroy ourselves now that our intelligence has granted us the means of self-destruction?
It would be far from my character to deny world and political events the influence on my opinions, so giving the events of the past week I can honestly say that things are definitely headed for a turn in the worst way.
100,000 body bags and 6,000 coffins have been secretly delivered to a US base in Italy. It seems that Americans are expecting a high number of casualties.
Duct tape and plastic sheeting is disappearing from store shelves. We are now on a heighten alert for biochemical attacks.
America witnesses the resurfacing of Osama bin Laden. Honestly we all had a feeling that he was not gone for long, rather he was just laying low to regroup.
North Korea reopens the plutonium processing plants, and even threatening a preemptive attack. Bush and the situation in Iraq are most likely responsible for this. Bush’s premature threats against Hussein, have given other terrorist regimes the perception that the US actions are not to be taken seriously.
The US has put the American public on alert for biochemical warfare here in the United States. Although the US Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, revealed earlier this month that American forces are planning to use “non-lethal” biochemical weapons such as anti-riot gases and crowd control agents if they invade Iraq.
These weapons have been deemed illegal under the 1992 Chemical Weapons Convention and the 1928 Geneva Protocol, which ban the use of chemical agents against people in wartime.
There was a time where we did not have to think about a war on U.S. soil. Today we live I fear of biochemical warfare and weapons of mass destruction. True, weapons of mass destruction are not new. What is new is that knowledge required to make them is no longer obscure. Almost anyone with rational education in physic, chemistry or biology can make them. The intelligence of mass destruction lays between the pages of a book that can be check out of almost any library, or found on some web page.
North Korea has just been declared by the International Atomic Energy Agency to be a nuclear outlaw. Iran has announced that they plan to mine uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel. They have just discovered two new secret Iranian nuclear complexes.
Time is running short.
Earth has been around about 4 billion years, intelligent life has been present here for perhaps 200,000, and weapons of mass destruction have only been around for about a hundred years. A drop in the bucket in the eyes of the universe. Yet, we find ourselves on the edge of self-destruction.
How long will it be that we are able to contain the knowledge that leads to certain destruction? Surely not for another billion years- perhaps through the lifetime of our children.
I certainly hope so.
The question at hand is can- and will – the civilized part of humanity disarm the barbarians who would use this knowledge for ultimate destruction.
I guess within the next couple of months we will find out.
One thing is certain may God’s blessing be with all that are being called to the Middle East and also may he bless the loved ones that they are leaving behind.
