Reflection #6

Our focus this week on marginalized demographics--within our classroom, society, and the universe itself--proves how natural it is for humankind to categorize in terms of "us and them." The inclusion of all within any sort of community is paramount for optimum functionality; yet inclusion is the source of conflict. Who do we include? How can we neatly define who is marginalized and who is not? Next, how do we include those who have been forced to the outer realms of society? Our discussion on Thursday produced suggestions for the voiceless and measures that can be taken to "integrate" them into the life of the community as a whole. However, history demonstrates that revolutionary acts of inclusion do not always take immediate effect, or even yield a lasting reform. I am only referencing human history in this reflection; the aftermath of future human-extraterrestrial contact is unfathomable to me. Despite the fact that the United Nations recently created an ambassadorial position for aliens, I cannot express confidence in the endeavor. We cannot even respect the relations among fellow nation-states, among our own species. How can humankind reasonably expect to pursue purely diplomatic relations with beings from another planet or universe when we often fail so miserably at those within the confines of our own? Humans are predetermined to fear that which they do not understand, to classify everything as friend or foe. Extraterrestrials would be the most marginalized group imaginable, and the repercussions of intergalactic relations would further aggravate humans' "us vs. them" mentality.