A MATTER OF CON(SCIENCE)

Reading about Elon Musk’s space rendezvous sounds like we are living in two different worlds on the same planet. In one world, people are struggling to breathe for lack of proper healthcare facilities. In the same world, people, especially children are dying of hunger (“Musk’s Spacex wins $2.9 billion moon lander contract from Nasa,” April 17, Gulf Today).

And yet, in a parallel world, millions are spent to travel to space. It looks and sounds like something atrocious, and yet it is not.

Of course it’s a question of morality and science. But then, when science turns frivolous, one questions the motive or rather, the intent behind scientific progress if it can be called that, when people are dying because of food and breath.

Such questions would have not arisen if it were not for the pandemic times. I believe that morality calls for pooling resources into that what is more urgent. And right now it is healthcare.

Sure, healthcare is always of prime importance and also people will keep dying of hunger. But then again unless these issues are addressed, how is spending millions on space travel justified? Do we die if we do not find out more about that star or is it important to save a person from dying by puting food in front of him?

It is ironic that the hungry have to pay the price today so that the fortunate could some day in the future benefit from scientific advancements made by Musk and the likes.

Joyce D By email