"Do we secretly long for extra-terrestrial intelligence? More advanced than us? Why? Because it would save us?"

Most would think so and have (as we know from our old net board). I beg to differ in that 'it 'nor 'they' would not save us, but would deliver us from some old standards. Never mind that the Earth was the center of the universe. Which, btw, NOT the center of the universe.

The search for life outside of Earth is older than dirt and may reach as far or even farther than the Egyptians. I think that as long as man was able to think as he gazed upon our night sky, he could not help but wonder 'beyond' it.