Technology in the film Contact
The film Contact addresses the complex question of whether extraterrestrial life exists. In the beginning of the film, the idea that there could be any form of extra terrestrial life seemed ludicrous and Ellie was made a fool for believing in the possibility. Once Ellie and her fellow scientists receive a radio signal from the planet Vega, the government decided to take over the test site and the entire project. Without any information about the intent of the contact, the government made the assumption that it would be in their best interest to respond with violence. This response is not only true in the movie, the urge to respond to an unknown threat with violence can be seen in the way in which the United States solves world conflicts today. The quarrel between the United States and Iraq is an example of responding to the unknown with violence. Although the conflict between the United States and the extra terrestrial life on Vega is a very different from that of Iraq, there are many similarities. Due to the lack of common laws or ideas, a sense of the unknown emerges between both parties and as this feeling increases a feeling of fear immerges. Unless the lines of communication are opened between the nations of this pl
Although we are on the verge of a world war, it is not only a result of the advancement of technology. Had the United States and its warring neighbors had an advancement in the reasons why we start wars as well as an advancement in technology, perhaps the chance of a third world war would be less eminent. The United States has continued to evolve its technology, and yet the US is still fighting wars over the same disputes. However, while the wars over territory have begun to cease over the past centuries, we have begun to fight more wars based on the "clash of civilizations" (Huntington, Samuel (1993) The Clash of Civilizations? Foreign Affairs 72(22-49)) and "holy wars" which are more uncertain. It is no longer as simple as dividing lands between people, now there are the conflicts of cultures and civilizations which are nearly impossible to solve. The fact that these primitive wars are being fought with ever evolving technology is what adds to the threat of a world war. If there is no communication, because of a difference in culture and beliefs, then once again the fear of the unknown occurs, and as stated in the deterrence chart above, this leads to an arms race. anet, the United States will always be on the verge of a third world war. It is unfortunate that in a country and world with such diverse cultures and so much to learn from one another, that we let this fear of what we do not know cripple us. We are crippling our evolvement as not only a country but as a race. In the film, it is evident that the government is really only concerned with the safety of the United States. Although there is most likely an equal threat to the other nations of the world, the United States only focuses on themselves. This is the problem, the fact that we deal with issues as to how they affect us. The US has yet to come to the realization that everyone, despite what country they were born or what planet they are from, can help us to learn about ourselves. In the end it is this lack of concern, and the response to fear and the unknown with violence, that will surely lead to a third world war. The only thing that can eliminate this threat of war is to acknowledge the discourse of other nations and planets. The United States must discuss the problems and issues that exist between nations, and make an attempt to solve them. We will continually face the chance of a third world war if we do not open communication because there will always be unknown people, places, and ideas in the world. If the first reaction is always one that involves both fear and violence, then we will never live in a world that is free from the threat of war. There really is no need for the United States
Some common words found in the essay are:
Findings Theoretical, Maybe United, Vega United, Iraq Vega, Foreign Affairs, , Violence United, Vega Iraq, Based Americans, Kenneth Bacon, world war, arms race, extra terrestrial, third world war, third world, terrestrial life, defend themselves, extra terrestrial life, leads arms race, leads arms, anarchy leads, respond violence, unknown threat, common political authority, chance third world,
Approximate Word count = 1814
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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