Earth to Mars

You like walking on Mars.

I've heard all the arguments about the advantages of unmanned missions into outer space, and I've considered the merits of spending our money on earthly problems before investing in space. Both are intellectually sound and spiritually inadequate.

Let's not get too excited about the reference to spirit. I don't mean a soul. I mean the human spirit--the improvement and progress of humankind. Robots on Mars are useful, and robots-only on Mars makes great sense to an accountant. But poetry matters. As for the perfectibility of humanity on Earth, forget it. Yes, let's work to alleviate poverty. But if we wait until the last starving person has a happy meal, we'll never get off this rock.

Let's walk on Mars. And if any Martians get in our way, let's give them small pox. We still owe those green motherfuckers for the invasion of '38.