Stephen Hawking Speaketh

Today I read a great article about my hero Stephen Hawking, who was speaking to a university in Hong Kong. The gist of his talk is that in order to ensure the survival of the human species, we need to start building permanent settlements on the Moon and Mars.

"It is important for the human race to spread out into space for the survival of the species," he was quoted as saying "Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus, or other dangers we have not yet thought of."

To add to Hawking's list, I would like to include environmental degradation and an asteroid hit. Yep, the human species is likely going to get toasted, one way or the other. We humans need to start thinking ahead.

Hawking is a fascinating person to me. Diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease at a young age, his doctors told him he would not live long. However, he has defied the disease, and though he is greatly incapacitated, he is still going strong at age 64. What a great inspiration to me!

I believe that every once in a while great humans are sent to us to help humanity take its next steps forward. Some of these great thinkers include Leonardo DiVinci, Isaac Newton, and Albert Einstein. The incredible Stephen Hawking definitely fits in with this group of great geniuses. I would even put Benjamin Franklin into this group as well.

If most people said the visionary things that Hawking said, they would be brushed off as crazy. But Hawking holds the position of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge in England. So when he says these things, most people actually listen. He's no wacko -- he is a genius. Maybe we should all listen to him and start taking action now.

Thank you, Mr. Hawking. You are a very great man.