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From: barb@oliven.UUCP (Barbara Jernigan)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Exploitation vs. Colonization
Message-ID: <519@oliven.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 26-Feb-86 19:43:04 EST
Article-I.D.: oliven.519
Posted: Wed Feb 26 19:43:04 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Mar-86 16:46:07 EST
References: <8602210916.AA05462@s1-b.arpa>
Organization: Olivetti ATC; Cupertino, Ca
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[First I want to apologize for a glitch in our site's new net interface 
(the Software Perversities have been waging a full scale attack on me) --
the helio/geo musing was SENT from my TERMINAL as MAIL, because it
was a MUSING -- if I'd meant to post it, I would have checked the OED
first.  (I have since reverted to the old interface.)]

Now, an aside on the exploitation of space issue, paraphrased from
the Grab Bag section of this last Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle.

The question was why the English succeeded in the new world where the
Spanish and French failed.  Answer?  The English brought their families.

Now, of course the issues then were hardly so simple (or were they???);
but the comment points out a -- to me -- interesting juxtaposition of
ideologies:  Exploitation vs. Colonization.  A man is *less* (I said *less*)
likely to despoil his own yard.

Besides, I think the doorway to space, to be a *doorway* and not a dead-end,
must open on Colonization.  At some point we (at least *some* of us ;-) need 
to leave the nest -- without thought of return.  Otherwise our sojourns into
space will remain curiosities.

Comment anyone?

Barb

(P.S. Visited NASA Ames yesterday -- second only to the prototype aircraft
for my personal entertainment were the artists' renditions of SPACE STATIONS -- 
colony-style -- hanging in the Tour Facility.  The dream is alive and kicking!)