For in excess of 50 years I have believed that earth is not the only planet in our universe which will support life forms such as are found here.
I also believe that we humans are not the only intelligent life forms in the universe.
HST, I have trouble understanding why some so-called “intelligent” life forms on this planet are and/or support LIEberals, Democrats, Socialists, Marxists, Islam, etc., etc.
Upon careful consideration of the above statement, I can only conclude that life forms which are and/or support them are, plainly and simply, DUMBASSES!
And, furthermore, since there are dumbasses on earth, it follows that if there is another inhabitable planet in our universe (and surely there is!), there will be dumbasses there as well!
I wonder if they deal with their dumbasses as ingorantly and clumsily as we do?
SILLY ASSES
by Issac Asimov
1957 Columbia Publications, Inc.
Naron of the long-lived Rigellian race was the fourth of his line to keep the galactic records.
He had a large book which contained the list of the numerous races throughout the galaxies that had developed intelligence, and the much smaller book that listed those races that had reached maturity and had qualified for the Galactic Federation. In the first book, a number of those listed were crossed out; those that, for one reason or another, had failed. Misfortune, biochemical or biophysical shortcomings, social maladjustment took their toll. In the smaller book, however, no member listed had yet blanked out.
And now Naron, large and incredibly ancient, looked up as a messenger approached.
Naron, said the messenger. Great One!
Well, well, what is it? Less ceremony.
Another group of organisms has attained maturity.
Excellent. Excellent. They are coming up quickly now. Scarcely a year passes without a new one. And who are these?
The messenger gave the code number of the galaxy and the coordinates of the world within it.
Ah, yes, said Naron. I know the world. And in flowing script he noted it in the first book and transferred its name into the second, using, as was customary, the name by which the planet was known to the largest fraction of its populace. He wrote: Earth.
He said, These new creatures have set a record. No other group has passed from intelligence to maturity so quickly. No mistake, I hope.
None, sir, said the messenger.
They have attained to thermonuclear power, have they?
Yes, sir.
Well, thats the criterion. Naron chuckled. And soon their ships will probe out and contact the Federation.
Actually, Great One, said the messenger, reluctantly, the Observers tell us they have yet penetrated space.
Naron was astonished. Not at all? Not even a space station?
Not yet, sir.
But if they have thermonuclear power, where do they conduct the tests and detonations?
On their own planet, sir.
Naron rose to his full twenty feet of height and thundered, On their own planet?
Yes, sir.
Slowly Naron drew out his stylus and passed a line through the latest addition in the small book. It was an unprecedented act, but, then, Naron was very wise and could see the inevitable as well as anyone in the galaxy.
Silly asses, he muttered.