Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to Yes but... Maybe we need to invite invasion in order to advance to the next level of civilization!

Choosing sides
TB — (archived)

Again, sounds like what a lot of Third World countries had to do during the Cold War. Most liked the goodies they got out of it. A few resented it, but not many. Pride fills few stomachs.

A lot of SF stories have covered the idea of a post-invasion Earth. Usually, in the movies, we beat the invaders. End of story. "Alien Nation" explored the idea of aliens as an immigrant minority.

I don't recall a lot of movies about the aliens winning, but I haven't really racked my brain. If there were such movies, I suspect they'd focus on the Resistance, the wreckage of our cities, and a lot of hot laser battles.

I wonder what a movie would be like showing a vastly superior alien race coming to Earth and simply taking over. Death rays? Black Smoke? Amateur stuff. Who needs it? Hold out the cure for cancer or a way to get people to live 500 years, and how many would hand over their weapons cheerfully?

There are already far too many people on this planet who would trade their liberty for free medical care or knowing where their next meal will come from. And given starvation, how many of us would choose differently? But where is the bar? If you're living a comfortable life, would you welcome the new alien overlords for another 100 years of life? For an easy way to see the rings of Saturn in person?

For finally having all the bloody problems of the world in somebody else's lap for a change?

"Second coming of Christ" or "Advent of the Space Brothers," it's the same deep yearning for Daddy to come in and make it all better. Having to spend eternity as a subject species seems to be a small price to pay for many.

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