One of my favorite songs from way back in 1985 or so was a song entitled "Escape from the fallen planet". When things were going badly with me that was my go to "keep holding on" song. I suppose the more modern term is "fight song".
Sometimes life gets crazy and my thoughts are "I've had enough of life for right now, let me step off this crazy ride and catch my breath. I suppose that's what vacations are supposed to do. Indeed, my son left for Japan just yesterday. He really enjoys going there because he can leave his problems and worries here and go there where things just work, where he doesn't have any immediate stresses or problems and things are so much more peaceful.
For him, Japan is a utopia. Sort of....
Now I will admit that Japan was beautiful when I went there last year. The food was great. The people were orderly, quiet and respectful. The public transport was excellent. Once I got over the initial shock and how things were so very different than what I was used to I really enjoyed it there.
I was only there for a week though. Any new place can be awesome for a week, especially when you don't have work to worry about. Things change when you live in a place. My son is well aware of this. He loves Japan but after a month...the quiet orderly behavior leaves him feeling very lonely. He feels the social pressure to blend in and not make waves. He talks to people and sees the cracks in society. He sees that life there isn't perfect, it just has different problems.
However, there are the problems we bring with us wherever we may go. If I'm unhappy with my weight, moving to the Philippines isn't going to make it any better. In fact moving there made me feel even fatter as there are virtually no clothes for someone my size. If I'm sad about how small my social circle is then being in another country just makes it worse...and making friends just got a whole lot harder. The list goes on but the message is "I'm still the same me, regardless of where I am".
The Hive learners asked "If I could live on another planet would I take the opportunity to move there"?
The quick answer is :
Now that isn't to say that I'm happy with the way this world is. There is so much wrong going on here that I wish I could leave. Pollution is rampant. Societal discontent is prevalent. There is considerable strife between different groups and many wars raging. We have greed in governments and corporations the likes of which is hard to imagine. However, why add more points? I'm quite certain that everyone living on this planet is well aware of what is wrong with it.
It really is a tempting idea. Start fresh in a new world with pure air, people devoted to working together to start a new community and new world, A place where everyone has a job, criminals are screened out, where the laws make sense and no more bickering between lands. Get rid of the squabbles of history and just start again fresh.
However, there is a big flaw in the assumption that things will be better in a new world.
Every look at old western movies? In the "wild west" there was poor law enforcement, poor amenities, and generally a rough life. Certainly many people came looking for new starts and opportunity but guess what? Without strong networks designed to keep people in check things often went bad.
Perhaps you would say "If only I had people who thought like me" then things would be better. Make little islands of like minded people who get along and make things work better. Honestly? That could work....sort of. Look at Hutterite or Mennonite colonies. These people live together, work together, and share community goals together. Crime rates are very low and general community cohesion is very good.
.... But give it time.
I'm a Mennonite Christian or more specifically a Mennonite Brethern Christian. To the average person the thought would be...is there really a difference? The answer is: Yes. However, as a non-Christian it may seem purely academic. The point isn't what I affiliate as. The point is that even a tight knit group can have fractures and split.
Or perhaps an example closer to home. Look at marriages. No marriage starts off with "This other person is awful and I do not want to live with them". It starts off with two people who really DO want to live together. Give it time though and roughly half of the people find they actually don't want to be together and that the other person it crazy.
I can almost guarantee that any mission to a foreign planet would start off with the loftiest of goals and fracture at some point. Maybe quickly and maybe after decades. People are just people and they eventually don't get along.
As bad as this world can be and as broken as things seem to be I'd rather stay here.
because at least it is easy to identify what needs to be fixed.
We have made courts to take care of lawlessness. We have food banks to help those in need. We have recycling programs to help reduce waste. We have countries where we are mostly joined with people with similar values and upbringing.
We have guardrails in society because we have seen exactly what happens when we don't have them. On a foreign planet we may think we don't need those guardrails on society only to find out that Oops maybe we did.
Even if people aren't the issue, we are aware of the predators on earth and have adapted to them. Well, the megafauna at least. Lions and Tigers? Not really the threat they would have been 200 years ago. European cave bears? Extinct. Wolf packs? Not thinking they are a concern in any major city. Get bitten by a snake? Sure you may die but at least we often have treatments and antivenom. Or if you are in Australia you know to tap your shoe to dislodge any spiders that may be hiding inside.
We know how to deal with terrestrial threats but on a foreign planet? I have no idea what hidden dangers may lurk. From the tiniest prions (Mad cow disease) to gigantic predators (Polar Bears) at least we know how to deal with them. On a foreign planet what do we do if there is a disease we don't know how to treat. Or what if there is a predator like something out of Aliens?
No thank you on that one.
I think one of the biggest problems about a new planet is there are no more scapegoats. Look in the United States right now. Republicans can blame Democrats and vice versa. People can blame immigrants, foreign workers, or even "the white man" instead of accepting blame. Or perhaps you just blame a different age group? Its the Boomers, of Gen-x of millenials...lets just blame them. It's convenient. Go to a new planet and you lose the ability to blame someone else for your own problems.
It was funny when my son left home. He was ready for it and I helped him move. However, less than a year later he came back. It was a lot more work than he expected. If dishes need to be done....on him. Laundry? Him. Checking the front door when you just want to sleep. On him. No one to blame for the way things are. No one to help when things go wrong. No excuses because no-one is listening.
On a foreign planet?
That means being in the uncomfortable position of having to do everything and fully accepting responsible for everything. Very inconvenient.
On a more personal note, I'm rapidly approaching senior citizen age. That means that my health will be declining over time. It will mean that I'll want a caregiver or care home a lot sooner than I care to admit.
At least in Canada and on this planet I know what's available (as poor as it may be).
Mostly though it comes down to a simple fact. You need to be responsible with little things before you get greater things. If a child can't great a cheap RC car nicely why would I expect him to play with an expensive one more carefully? If my son doesn't look after his current dog why would I get him another one?
If we can't care for the planet we have why would I expect a new one to be cared for any better.
So, while I wish I could get off this planet and go to a pristine one, I'm quite sure that's not going to happen. Even if we could do it, I don't think humanity has grown up enough to be responsible with that level of choice.
But perhaps you have a different opinion. Perhaps you think as I do? Either way I'd love to heard different thoughts in the comment section.
