May "The Force" Be with Us!

I was at my wit's end yesterday fiddling with confounding wires and sockets trying to make my phone work. It conked out after a brief power outage.  But just as I was about to tear my hair and bang my head against the wall in frustration, something in the news made me chuckle.

Apparently, some 34,000 people signed a petition to the White House for the construction of a "Death Star" in outer space  to defend earth from planets hurtling towards the us and to provide work for the unemployed.  The project was estimated to cost some (make sure you're seated) $850,000,000,000, 000. 000!  Or $850 quadrillion! The petition set project completion for 2016, three years from now.

Compelled by President Obama's policy of replying to any petition with more than 25,000 signatories, the White House did indeed respond. Here are excerpts from a statement issued by White House official Paul Shawcross:

* The Administration does not support blowing up planets.

* Yes, we already have a giant, football field-sized International Space Station in orbit around the Earth that's helping us learn how humans can live and thrive in space for long durations. The Space Station has six astronauts -- American, Russian, and Canadian -- living in it right now, conducting research, learning how to live and work in space over long periods of time, routinely welcoming visiting spacecraft and repairing onboard garbage mashers, etc. 

* If you do pursue a career in a science, technology, engineering or math-related field, the Force will be with us! Remember, the Death Star's power to destroy a planet, or even a whole star system, is insignificant next to the power of the Force.

My take:

There are far more dangerous and immediate concerns that we need to work on right where we are than anticipating the prospect of a star/comet/planet headed our way. I give credit though to the petitioners' creativity. Now if only we can harness that same wild imagination to address widespread aggression and violence both towards fellow humans as well as our environment, we can cut down on the economic and social  cost of living on planet earth. There is no need for an $850 quadrillion (!!!)  "Death Star" to supposedly spur job creation and defend earth from possible alien invaders and oncoming planets.

Unless we learn to live harmoniously and are firmly grounded on the values of Honor and Respect, we will only pollute  the universe with our "dirt."

Rather than a Death Star, we need real-life  Jedis and clones of Yoda, Obi Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker.

They will wield Sabers of Light to fight Darkness  not far out there but where they are badly and urgently needed -- right here and now.

May The Force be with you!

Star Wars' Obi Wan Kenobi. Photo from thegreenhead.com

 - Ariel Murphy