Alien First Contact of any type will bring a major shift in
perspective for humanity. Direct First Contact, extraterrestrials visiting our
solar system to say hello, would create a new era for humanity. Human history
could forever be marked as Before First Contact and After First Contact. I have
expressed optimism for what that massive change in perspective could do for
humanity. It could cause us to find new importance in our international
relations. The realization that we are in this together may increase
cooperation between countries here on Earth. If aliens provide us with new
information about our place in the universe that too could change our
perspective. Perhaps they would also have insight into our climate change
issues and clean energy needs?
I don’t think that entrance into a new era will come easily.
It seems to me that the impact of First Contact on human civilization would
likely occur in three major phases. The first would be the Stunned Period. Humans would simply watch in awe as events unfold. It
may seem remarkably peaceful at first. It is simply the eye of the storm.
Within a matter of days or weeks the Stunned Period will dissipate.
The Stunned Period is not without dangers. Our world leaders will decide how First Contact proceeds. If they
react poorly, the Stunned Period could quickly turn into chaos. One nation
taking rogue military action against visiting extraterrestrials is an example.
The nations with larger military forces, and better technology, will not only
need to keep their forces calm, but be prepared to react to a rogue nation
attack, such as the firing of an ICBM. Similarly, there will be a threat posed
by every fighter jet or missile battery within range of an extraterrestrial
craft. It would take great discipline to keep first responders and members of
the military calm and yet vigilant. All militaries, in all nations, will need
to be on alert in case of Direct First Contact. Just because aliens say they
are here in peace doesn’t mean that is really the case. But we cannot be on a
hair trigger alert. It is too dangerous. There must be a level of vigilance
that is high enough to protect, while staying well away from imminent action.
Up next would be the Initial
Reaction Period. In this period, all of the old hostilities and fears
inherent in human relations would resurface. I believe that the Initial
Reaction could be quite chaotic. Many voices will be screaming to be heard.
Many groups will have differing opinions about how humans should act. Those
opinions will likely fall on a continuum between fear and optimism. Some groups
will want humans to protect themselves at any cost and no matter what the
stated intentions of the aliens. Others will be wildly optimistic, wanting as
much contact as possible to occur as quickly as possible. Within that cacophony
of opinions will be extremist groups, some threatening to take physical action
if they don’t get their way. Those actions could be violent. The degree to
which the Initial Reaction is chaotic will depend on two primary factors: the
responsiveness of governments to matters as they arise and the commonality of
those government responses worldwide. If nations come together in a unified
response and show the public both strong organization and care for public
opinion, the violence could be quelled. If nations react slowly, and without
disciplined leadership, the chaos could spread. If nations fight with each
other, and have vastly different responses to First Contact, the chaos could be
a world-wide phenomenon.
I believe that eventually humanity would be able to rise
above the chaos and come to a consensus plan to move forward. Once again- how
long that takes depends on the actions of individual nations. If governments
are responsive and decisive the chaotic period could be short. When there is an
international agreement on moving forward we will enter the third period, which
I will call the Settlement Period.
In this sense I use this dictionary definition of Settlement: an agreement composing differences.
There will undoubtedly be differences in how nations think First Contact should
proceed. The Settlement is the airing of those differences followed by
negotiation and resolution. Why call it the Settlement Period? This process is
likely to go on for many years, with each new situation bringing about a need
for the airing of differences followed by negotiation and resolution. The
primary sense of Settlement would be that all nations have a common process in
place to solve problems and agree that using the process is better than
conflict.
International relations are currently
problematic here on Earth, to say the least. However, the way we are acting now
doesn’t mean that we can’t rise above our differences in the future and provide
a strong, unified response to extraterrestrial First Contact. I believe that
anything is possible when it comes to humanity. We just have to believe in
ourselves and trust each other.
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