To the Editor:
The ‘lil toolkit in Space has become somewhat a minor celebrity. Once inadvertently untethered on the shuttle Endeavour, it floated free, to appear from time to time on the Internet. For me, the toolkit has become kind of a boy who simply states, “But the emperor has no clothes on.” The toolkit (and its creators) witness the Earth and Space in reality, beyond anything predicted or known in history.
On Nov. 26 and 27, I watched the terrorists lay siege to lives and buildings in Mumbai, but occasionally switched to the NASA channel. The contrast was striking and thought-provoking. On one, there is this Earth, afloat in the blackness of Space, and below, the destruction wrought by its inhabitants against each other.
I sense there’s more to the story. A way some interpret the world, its meaning and our reason for being in it.
I’m thinking that if these terrorists are like the ones we’re familiar with, they ascribe to belief in texts written by men who had not the slightest knowledge of the world, the universe as seen from our little tool kit, men who thought the Earth flat with corners, men who knew nothing of bacteria, genes, vaccines, and that simply washing one’s hands before delivering a baby could save millions of lives. Therefore, on these things alone, I know radicals should take another look, and question whether their texts are inspired by the facts, or simply the explanations given by those who were at the time, ignorant and superstitious.
No one in this 21st century should be following un-updated textbooks. Nothing will be proven at Mumbai except men will try to kill others, again, because they sincerely, whole-heartedly, believe those ancient texts give them the right to persecute, kill, and otherwise deny freedoms to others.
Don’t look for peace on Earth as long as these texts are taught and traditional.
Tune into the NASA channel sometime. What a beautiful, peaceful-looking world we have! If you watch the astronauts working, you’ll see those of different races and nations cooperating. The great picture, and you’re below it, watching. How much better it can be for all. The answers are right in front of us, after all, so much more to learn and discover, make the world so much better.
Carl Scheiman, Walpole
