There has been a lot of controversy lately about sending messages and broadcasting such things as TV, radio, and even the internet into outer space in an attempt to contact extraterrestrials.

One of the brightest minds in the scientific world today, Stephen Hawking, says he does not think it is a good idea. I agree with him. That isn't to say that we have not ever been visited by beings from another world. There is some who believe that our origins actually at one time came from another world. Large designs carved into the earth that can only be seen from very high altitude exist in Peru and other places on earth leading us to believe we have been visited before.

Of course there is ho basis in fact to prove or disprove that theory. But the question remains. Should we be trying to contact ET's?

I agree with Mr. Hawking. I don't think it is a very good idea.

Why?

First, we have just begun exploring space. In the grand scheme of things, the seventy or so years we have been attempting to get into space, discover and explore other worlds, is just an eye blink of time. When you consider that the furthest man has gone into space is to the moon and back, at least as our government would have us believe, is nearly nothing compared to the vastness of space and the number of possible inhabited planets. We have no idea what life exists on other worlds. We do not know the mind of any of these inhabitants, should they exist.

If you consider the fact that if we should contact them, that makes them aware of our existence. They may not know with any certainty that we are here any more than we know with any amount of certainty that they exist either. But the point is that if they have the ability to contact us, or even to possibly visit our world, what is their attitude? If they can come to earth, they are obviously much more technologically advanced than we are. Would they come as friends, willing to share their technology with us, or would they more likely come as violent beings bent on world domination, exploitation and slaving. Just as earthlings have done when finding new worlds here on earth. I have to believe that anyone so technically advanced beyond our abilities to visit their world, would not be someone we would even want to know we are here.

If we do not contact them they may not be aware of us. They may speculate about life on other worlds, but the vastness of space and the number of planets may protect us with some amount of anonymity. If we contact them, it removes that anonymity. That could lead to our being wiped out by a "master race". And when you consider that we as earthlings cannot even get beyond the color of our skin to enjoy non racist attitudes. How could we possibly join together to protect ourselves from such superior beings. Should that even be possible.

I say it is in our best interest to keep our extraterrestrial mouths shut. And enjoy the peace and freedom we now enjoy, as little as it may be.