[betty boop]

But as has been pointed out earlier, now that we're in the way, it's unlikely that our distant cousins (or whatever) will be able to make any progress in taking over our turf.

What??? Are you kidding, PatrickHenry??? Do you think that, if our "distant cousins" were ever to take it into their heads to "rise up" against homo sapiens, that some culturally and/or politically influential "homo sapiens" would not declare it "our" duty -- in the interest of avoiding the mortal sin of "speciesism" -- to just roll over and die? Hey, "evolution" marches on; who are we to stand in its way?

Thanks so much for writing, PH. All my best -- bb.

p.s.: Please don't take this reply too much to heart; I'm half "just pulling your leg" here....

[balrog666]

p.s.: Please don't take this reply too much to heart; I'm half "just pulling your leg" here....

Are you sure that's a leg?

[unspun]

What??? Are you kidding, PatrickHenry??? Do you think that, if our "distant cousins" were ever to take it into their heads to "rise up" against homo sapiens, that some culturally and/or politically influential "homo sapiens" would not declare it "our" duty -- in the interest of avoiding the mortal sin of "speciesism" -- to just roll over and die? Hey, "evolution" marches on; who are we to stand in its way?

With species each left to our natural results, my money would be on the long term dominance of fungi, microbes, oligochaeta, insects... very good odds on cockroaches.

[PatrickHenry]

Do you think that, if our "distant cousins" were ever to take it into their heads to "rise up" against homo sapiens, that some culturally and/or politically influential "homo sapiens" would not declare it "our" duty -- in the interest of avoiding the mortal sin of "speciesism" -- to just roll over and die?

The politics would certainly be interesting, and yes, there would no doubt be a strident faction with exactly the position you described. Hey, right now our borders are overrun by foreigners who break our laws and get away with it. Bright apes might be soon following in their footsteps.

The burning question, BB, is this -- would the bright apes be creationists?