The Alien Ambassador

If, as news reports are claiming, the UN does in fact decide to instigate the post of ambassador to extraterrestrials, there will be a precedent set that the world will have to take notice of. By appointing someone, potentially the current director for the Office of Outer Space Affairs, as the individual chosen to make first contact with any alien life, the UN will be sending a distinct message to the world—a message that they are open and willing to embrace the future, and any possibility of life on other planets with an open mind and a willing spirit to explore. The UN would be wise to prepare for the many prospective, albeit sometimes unbelievable situations that could arise from the future of space travel and technological advancement. If, for example, aliens were to arrive on earth, like in the simulation during class, it would be prudent to have a practical plan or at least some measures set in place to react to the situation. Ensuring that there is in fact someone designated to receive these non-human visitors presents a degree of preparedness that we would not have otherwise had. When we talked about the potential outcomes of an alien landing in Washington DC, there was so much uncertainty and discord in the method in which different groups wanted to deal with the event. One instance where we had to make a difficult decision was determining who we wanted to greet the aliens. There were too many options dealing solely with American officials, and if the alien encounter were a global thing, the decision of denoting who would be the first to greet the aliens would be made even more difficult. By creating the position of ambassador, we effectively solve this problem. From a liberal point of view, the creation of the alien ambassador would be a good idea. Liberals believe in furthering the common good. By appointing this ambassador, both aliens and humans would be benefited, as Aliens would have an expert prepared to greet them, and would most likely experience a warmer reception then they would with no knowledge about them, and the paranoia that comes with sending a foreign head of state to greet an unknown creature. Humans would feel relief that someone capable of dealing with aliens was in charge of greeting them, and the general public would be put at ease. Proponents of constructivism would also embrace this new foreign official, as it exhibits adaptation to change, and a fundamental shift in the identity of the world from self-centered, to thinking about the possibility of something other than earthly beings.