The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-11-29
Is Man Good Enough for Earth?

We nave been told for many years that we we're
mere ants on ar ant hill and that our earth life IS
probably only one of many such occurrences in vast
universe in which the stars are suns ike ours. only
most of them bigger.
Now We learn from David Dietz science editor Of
The Tmes that scientists believe that, vast as the
universe is and plentiful as suns are, few If any Of
these have planets revolving about them capable
Of sustaining life like that the EARTH world is
not such common thing after all.
A prodigal nature has spread vast stage SO
many million miles In extent that our mind can not
conceive its vastness Yet this gorgeous show Of
stars is after all only what the ancients thought it
was-the background and canopy Of earth's human
drama.
Physically it is immense beyond their dreams; in
value is the same. If anything the great size of
the unpeopled heavens makes that which is peopled
more significant
TO the imaginative person this reinsurance is not
necessary An individual is not less important in New
York. where he is one Of millions than he is in In
dianspolls where he is one Of thousands, on Mt.
LIE Conte, where he is all alone.
Neither is man less important if there myriads
Of planetary systems with their earths peopled by
other human-l beings Mans Importance lies in
the great range of experience feeling and thinking
that is possible to him. The repetition of the human
Intnresting.
But if the present view of science, that an earth
with human-like icing possibly even unique,
what tremendous feeling Of responsibility that should
give us II our life Is the best that the universe
show for all its pains in the CESSATION Of stars poor
universe!
The number of individuals who have made the
most of demonstrated human possibilities is disap
pontngly few and chaotic society falls far short
of the order of nature.
Today the earth is in great trouble. There is a
worldwide depression. And why2 Because there is
an "overproduction." Think Of I'll Man actually is
plunged in gloom because he has discovered that he
can produce more than enough to supply his needs
and wants.
He is in Distress not because nature is not bounti
full and man not her master, but because his own
greed will not let the many have what is produced in
such profusion by natural plenty and human skill
Look about YOU See the forests laid waste by fire.
the fields eroded by negact the streams polluted by
waste the heavens hidden by smoke. This is the land
which nature presented to man fair clean wilder
ness less than two centuries ago
The trouble is not that mans will is not free, but
That his will so free and his power great that he
can spoil this nice expression of the universe which
we call earth.
Man should stop complaining of the universe and
Its inadequacies thinking that it is unworthy Of
him. Let him look to himself. Is he worthy of the
universe2
We have got rid of the sense Of sin about lot of
things we used to do and worry about afterwards But
there is another sense in which man needs
science as he never needed it before. We need to
recognize the moral duty to be intelligent We must
make our activities worthy of the splendid scheme of
things