Even if we were to hurtle through the universe for the rest of our lives and never return to our home planet, wouldn't we measure everything always by Earth standards, Earth memories, Earth in our DNA?
Everything Evokes Earth
Earth has always been an anchor for astronauts who have ventured into space thus far in history. They can usually see it and they remain in contact with their people on it. They expect to go back eventually. Perhaps in some future time there will be settlements on Mars where humans will live and possibly never see Earth. Those who go further might only know Earth as a mythology from forgotten ancestors. For them perhaps the name "Earth" will evoke nothing in their minds other than what they have learned elsewhere or heard in a song or something.
Recently I dug into my home library to find a science fiction book that I had purchased while I was still in college. I never read it, but managed to keep it all these years so I figured I might as well try it. The main character had been born and had always lived in orbit around the moon. He was returning to a future Earth devastated by world wars. For me the story was so clunky and dumb and had so many references to language and culture of the sixties that it all just seemed too absurd.
Okay, I'll concede the book was supposed to be comedic satire, but I wasn't laughing. It all seemed so silly reading it now and imagining it was all in the future. But my point is that everything about us evokes where we are from. An author in another time might tend to write for his audience about things they do not know or have never experienced, so they have to refer to something more familiar. In the end that is Earth.
No matter how high I can jump, I cannot escape the force of the gravity of the Earth. And even if I fly off into space forever, I will watch Earth recede and keep trying to listen to its signals. I can never forget Earth. It's in my DNA. If there are children, then it will be in their DNA or some collective memory I suppose, but will that go on through time if this imaginary spacecraft continues into forever, into the DNA of those star children of that future.
I say "that future" because that's what it is. Everything evokes Earth.
What do you feel most connected to? Where would you want to spend the rest of your life if you could choose anywhere and any situation? Do you enjoy reading dated science fiction?
This is Birgit… I would miss Earth so I’d love to live in the Alps, Germany or Austria where I can sit at a nice cafe and walk around enjoying life. The nearest city I’d like to live in would be Vienna.
ReplyDeleteBirgit, I prefer good old U.S. or somewhere that mostly speaks English. But I can adapt pretty well. Still, I'd rather keep my feet on Earth.
DeleteLee
I wonder if we could send Elon Musk to Mars as he so desires (and richly deserves, pun intended) - how long it would be before he realised that he was aching for home and just recreating another Earth... (We also deserve to be rid of EM)!
ReplyDeleteI was a huge Arthur Clarke and Robert Heinlein fan in my younger years. I often think I should go back and read their books again (as well as more by Terry Pratchett.
ReplyDeleteDonna: Click for my 2025 A-Z Blog
Dated science fiction doesn't sound that appealing to me, especially when there are so very many more current books I want to read. And while I love Earth and am gloriously happy living here, when I look up into the night sky I often wonder where my next incarnation might be. I'm rather thinking the Pleiades constellation might be my next visiting place.
ReplyDeleteI truly think God has the universe not set up to be a place to move to. I love Elons science and efficiency stuff, but he'll never ever have his colony on Mars.
ReplyDeleteAs a diversified farmer who works with the land, the connection I feel to Earth is tangible and I am grateful for that. I cannot imagine living anywhere other than here (New Mexico, USA) though I might adapt elsewhere if necessary, though never in space. No thank you.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from the A to Z Challenge: https://boldandqueer.com/a-to-z-challenge-elizabeth/