Shadows

A short Thanksgiving story. Not a prediction. Merely a possibility.

“I told you. The plan is to return in another 223 local star system years,” Rodof stated.

“But they might need our help sooner than that,” Mas replied.

“I’m not sure it was right to help them as much as we have already.”

“But we’ve only offered hints, Rodof.”

“Like tips on how to build with stone, make steel, and harness atomic energy? How did these hints work out? Every time we’ve tried to help, our hints have been turned into religions or weaponry… Well, to be fair, they have done far worse on their own. It wasn’t our idea to wage dynastic wars, build empires, or commit genocide. It wasn’t our idea to rebrand feudalism as capitalism. And it certainly wasn’t our idea to plunder the planet’s resources, alter its climate, or make choices based on emotional states. What do they call those, Mas?”

“Vibes?”

“That’s right. How exactly do you expect us to reverse the effects of irrationality and ignorance?”

“A good question…” Mas reflected. “We could warn them. We could tell them what we have learned.”

“Like our last visit – not long after they used two atomic weapons in war? We tried to warn them to stop, to reconsider. When we were discovered, we had to resort to subterfuge. Remember we left fake aliens in a fake crash site. To this day, they think that’s what we look like! And they totally missed the point about peaceful uses of atomic energy and taking care of the planet. They continued weapons testing – on land, underground, and under the sea. The planet will remain contaminated for hundreds of local years. What makes you think we will be successful if we show up now?”

“Maybe it’s more of a vibe…”

“Very funny, Mas.”

“I don’t know what to say about how we might help with irrational beliefs, attention-seeking behavior, conflicting ideologies, greed, arrogance, or celebrity cults. But I’m concerned their civilization won’t last much longer.”

“I’m concerned as well. But you know as well as I that we can’t go there every time they are in trouble.”

“Even if the existential threat is getting exponentially worse?”

“Even then. They’ve made it through countless wars and natural calamities. Maybe we should let them make their own decisions. Maybe we should have a little faith.”

“Now, who’s vibing, Rodof? What if they need help before we visit them again?”

“We can’t do anything about their proclivities, Mas. Remember the old saying: No technology can compensate for a lack of rationality. In many ways, as much as we’d like to help, their future is their choice, not ours.”

_____

In star system year 2247, according to plan, Rodof’s people visited the third planet of the system in question. It displayed a thriving ecosystem, with vast forests, blue oceans, and millions of animals on land, undersea, and in the air. There were artifacts here and there. But there were no humans. Perhaps they didn’t deserve to live on the planet.

“If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, none other of my race,” returned the Ghost, “will find him here. What then? If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.” – Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

_____

As Thanksgiving Day approaches, I reflect that I have been given many undeserved gifts. It was always up to me to show that these gifts were not wasted. Sometimes I managed to prove the giver made the right choice. Sometimes, regrettably, I did not. And the jury is still out in the central case.

Nevertheless, there are two great gifts in this temporal existence. One is the people around us. The other is the planet and all its resources. It would be a monumental moral failure to squander what we have been given in the name of profit or power. To me, gratitude means proving yourself worthy of the faith others have placed in you, using your gifts wisely, and never giving up on the hope of a bright future for all people. If we are to be worthy of eternal life, maybe we should start by showing God we are worthy of His gifts in this life.