Accusing world famous astrophysicist Stephen Hawking of spreading misinformation about threats from aliens, former Canadian defence minister Paul Hellyer claimed Sunday that extraterrestrials have actually been visiting earth for decades.Former federal defence minister Paul Hellyer, 86, believes not only that aliens have visited Earth but also that they have contributed greatly to human technological advances.
So he can't quite understand why the world renowned astrophysicist views them with such trepidation; Hawking recently warned that malevolent aliens could lead to the destruction of humanity.
The longtime cabinet minister accuses Hawking of spreading misinformation about extraterrestrials.
"I think he's indulging in some pretty scary talk there that I would have hoped would not come from someone with such an established stature," Hellyer said in an interview.
"I think it's really sad that a scientist of his repute would contribute to what I would consider more misinformation about a vast and very important subject."
Hawking speculates in a new documentary that most extraterrestrial life will be similar to microbes, or small animals -- but he adds that advanced life forms may be "nomads, looking to conquer and colonize" new planets.
Hellyer served in the Liberal cabinets of Louis St. Laurent, Lester Pearson and Pierre Trudeau, later crossed the floor to the Conservative party, and eventually returned to the Liberals.
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i totally agree.hawking is just a skeptic like so many others.everyone has their opinion.
what i cannot understand is -how can someone who has never seen the evidence,-form an opinion?
In the fourth paragraph down, in this post it says "So he can't quite understand why the world renowned astrophysicist views them with such trepidation; Hawking recently warned that malevolent aliens could lead to the destruction of humanity." of former Defense Minister Hellyer.
In response, as I understand it, Mr. Hellyer, Stephen Hawking is saying that aliens may not come in peace because he is recalling Europeans' arrival on the North American continent, in the late fifteenth century in particular, as an example of 'an advanced civilization' landing on the shores of another separate and unaware civilization's (Native Americans'). Hawking points out the unintentional consequences, for example, the spread of disease which the Natives had no natural immunity to; and also the intentional changes inflicted on the Natives such as what the American government's literally taking their land from them did to them: utterly changing their cultures' ways of life forever. They were placed onto reservations, their ways of life taken from them, and told to farm (when they had mostly been nomadic hunters and gatherers, before).
Hawking is not misinforming. He is warning people, today, to simply consider that this has happened in our world's history and it isn't a bad idea to once and a while reflect on history for some insight into potential contemporary situations or the future.
Also, Hawking is simply trying to point out this point of view, say for the sake of discussion, or for people to simply take into consideration. I don't think that Hawking is at all wholly trying to slam the potential for 'first encounters'.
He's pointing out that we may not be advanced enough, as a civilization to entirely protect ourselves IF NEED BE. A little prudence for self preservation can't be a bad thing, can it, Mr. Hellyer?
Let's be open in this discussion, in particular since it has to do with our entire species and planet, to others, even if we disagree with them.
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