Battle for Terra

I recently watched Battle for Terra. Going in I only knew that it was an animated sci-fi movie. Generally thats enough for me. I primarily watch movies for entertainment and if it leads to deep ponderances...thats okay to.

It struck the same chords as Wall-e, Happy Feet, and Final Fantasy. The animation was absolutely gorgeous and would be worth watching even on mute just for the stunning visuals. The premise came across as very preachy. "We are wasting our resources so better shape up." I love sci-fi because it allows us to examine ideas like this from a neutral perspective and hopefully inspire thought and debate, rather than dogma and inaction. Sometimes the sermon is too overt. The following are my thoughts:

1. We have a gorgeous planet with a limited amount of resources and, save an epidemic or natural disaster of biblical proportions an unlimited amount of people. So we need more space.

2. We as humans have a long and less than proud tradition of fighting for our space.

3. We as humans have a long and more proud tradition of seeking out new space. We cross great distances and suffer immense hardships to explore possibilities. Often we do this armed with a few facts and a lot of hope.

4. Possibilities are always limitless by definition.

5. Perhaps, if we stopped putting our vast resources into building and maintaining armies, researching the latest ways to kill and cripple larger groups with less effort, and put those resources into exploration and expansion beyond our lovely little planet, we'd find a little more leg room for ourselves.

5a. For all of those worried about the above line, the research going into exploration will ultimately yield bigger and better weapons, it always has.

6. More leg room might just mean less fighting over it.

7. Not everyone is fighting over having enough space, it is particular space that matters to some. Let those worried about their "homeland" or sacred land fight over it. If Americans listen to themselves, we'll realize what we pride ourselves on is that our nation is built on ideals and the people that uphold them. We can do that anywhere.

In conclusion, as NASA finds water on the moon, gears up to search for life on Europa (a moon of Jupiter), and keeps an ever watchful eye to the heavens, lets look up with them and perhaps give them enough resources to find something.