It Could Always Be Worse

I know two particular people who are Irish optimist, meaning they always recognize that things could be worse. One of them once told me, "Everyday you have your manhood is a good day," as well as, "Your dick could be like a hot dog in a microwave." It strikes me that this same principle is never used when thinking about the religious, right winged, conservatives. Mostly the big complaint is that they want to destroy scientific research, progress, and digress society back from our technological advancements. They want to stop teaching evolution, end genetic research, stem cell testing, et cetera. Thank goodness these people are the worst we have to deal with, because it could certainly be worse. Imagine if that religious fervor was directed toward the advancement of technology and scientific knowledge in all its potential and possibilities. It would be an understatement to say we would all be having a bad time.

Admittedly science has produces many wonders, and have found countless beautiful properties of the natural world. We can grow a human tracheae with stem cell injections. We are on the verge of curing HIV. We can harvest energy from the wind and the sun. We can travel faster than the speed of sound. We can make a dragonfly grow to be almost four times its normal size. We can predict solar storms and sun spot cycles. I recently found out today why I only breathe through one nostril at a time. It's called nasal cycles and they occur about every four hours. Awesome! (Literally awe-some).

But Oppenheimer knew how far science can go. He knew the horrors of splitting an atom. He knew the nightmares science can create. It is an ethical problem among scientists as to whether the potential of certain scientific research should be ever known. Oppenheimer had even considered deliberately rendering the data for the Manhattan Projected flawed, because he felt these were areas of science that no one should tamper with. He only changed his mind because he feared the Germans would have a bomb as well, and they would not hesitate to use it. The marketing side of technology tends to use this argument: any and all technology should be discovered and documents, but how that technology is used is not our concern. No, it is a concern, and it is a huge ethical problem. If we could created artificial black holes of a significant size, would it be wise to test that on earth? Is it even ethical to test biological toxins and poisons for weaponry on planet earth?

Imagine the religious zealousness mixed with the horrors science and technology can achieve. We can hate the religious right for hating science, but it must be admitted that it is a relief they don't direct that same fervor towards the advancement of science at any and all costs. We should fear more any cult that embraces science and technological advancement to whatever end than those who just want to do away with it. It is far better for the human race to be set back a hundred or two years than to wipe ourselves out with anything we cannot possibly imagine at this time.

I believe in scientific progress, but I also admit that science and technology have a dark side. Oppenheimer knew that all too well.

"Now I have become Death, the destroyer of worlds."
~Bhagavad Gita, 11: 32