I should hope, and somewhat fear, that our government, possibly in conjunction with others, has sent out into space scout ships. Scout ships that could support many generations. These ships might be the only hope for the survival of our species.

If not the government, then perhaps private industry, or even a rich individual. Regardless of the motivation, I do hope that there are men and women out there even as I type this, seeing things I could only dream about.

I only wish that the events of the past few months--the world trade center and the subsequent war on the oppressed and misguided--I only wish that these had merely been bad dreams of my own. And that our fearless heros, selected, no doubt, for their bravery, impecunity, ability, and vision, that they should not hear of these terrible things we may be spreading to the universe at large.