At the small village of Wagah on the border between India and Pakistan they hold on an annual basis a display of national prowess. Both sides, divided by a fence show off and march as aggressively as they can in front of one another, throwing insults as they do so. Anyone wanting to know why we haven’t had first contact with a more advanced civilization needs only to look at this display, as it unfortunately demonstrates the tragedy of our species. While I know this display is only ceremonial, it stands as an example of how trivial, shallow and petty we have been and symbolises our lost and forgotten brotherhood.

Why would an alien civilization bother with a species which divides itself up so easily? One where brothers turn on brothers? Why would they voluntarily go into a den of lions? Many people feel fear and hostility to the idea of a world civilization, a world without nations. They hold onto their label, be it American, German or Japanese and create their entire personality around it, that is why it is so hard for them to let go. We will NOT be allowed any further into space until we have matured to the point where we are no longer hiding behind our flags with a gun pointing at our neighbour.

Our task is made that much harder because our own worst enemy is our own thoughts and ideas; it’s what keeps man apart from each other. We live in a black and white world of enemy/friend, capitalism/communism and we all feel pressured to take sides. The only way we can progress as individuals is to refuse to take sides, refuse to play the game.Until we can come to terms with one another, until we can accept each other’s right to exist we will never be allowed to step into the cosmos. A united humanity is a united Earth and a united Earth is the pathway to the stars.