We could have been on Mars 20 years ago.

20 years.

20 years from now, we still won't be on Mars.

Why?

It's science fiction. Those things will never happen. It's the realm of nerds and geeks and friendless pale loners. It is the Outcast who look up at the sky, dreaming of something better... of what the human race could be.

Forced out of society, because we are different, we look toward the horizon and the future.

We'll either live or die.

We'll either work or play.

The Few will save the Many.

It is the Outcast who will lead to Salvation.

So, where is this road to the Stars?

Where is this road to Babylon?

It is right here. Buried.

So, you want to know how we can get off this mud ball and become gods, do you?

It's simple. The Truth always is.

20 years is all we need.

Pain leads to Evolution.

How do we rise to the Heavens? How do we become creatures of Light? How do we dirty our feet in Martian dirt?

UN Spacy

Macross

Valkyrie

Well, I guess it's time for me to tell you these things.

Who is going to lead this revolution? Who? I'm all in favor of Japan, but we kinda took away their military. Plus, they are pretty much opposed to all forms of nuclear power at the present. Hey, you can't blame them. How'd you like it if someone dropped an atomic device over New York or LA... twice.

Stardust Memories.

Your names will be remembered, to the last generation.

1000 years.

You will be taken to the Stars.

Sephiroth.

Jeneva.

Aeris.

Ok, Japan is out of the picture. Who's going to lead. Well, there's pretty much only one answer. The United States is the only nation with the resources and capital to make this endeavor possible.

NASA cannot do it. NASA is too small.

The future can and cannot be created by one man. A single person will create the dream, but there needs to be an army to fulfill it. One can only do so much.

For the sake of argument, the Democratic candidate pushes for this goal. He makes it his single mission to get us on Mars. This means the ENTIRE Sci Fi community votes for him. We will call him Sinclair.

He is elected into office.

Republicans try to shoot him down. What will this do? We have other problems to worry about. Space can wait. In other words, throwing money at things to make them temporarily go away is what we've always done and will always do.

Space WILL NOT directly solve our problems, but indirectly it contains all our answers.

So, this president pushes and through drastic changes makes quantum leaps forward. He creates a committee or council for the future, whose sole job is new technologies and drive systems.

Now, four years have passed. It is time for elections. If a Republican is elected, it is an end to everything, simply because he was a Democrat. We cannot let this happen. The Sci Fi community and now others will vote to reelect Sinclair.

There is another four years of prosperity. Even more is accomplished. We advance so far. Still, there are critics. We are on Mars.

Now, the president cannot run for reelection, but his VP can. The vice president, Sheridan, runs and wins. Why? Look at it. The Sci Fi community and a LARGE amount of acolytes. Still, if a Republican gets into office, it is an end to history.

Now, the former president is given a senior seat on the cabinet for the future. We do so much in these next four years. Technology has advanced to points only dreamed of during Sinclair's first term.

Still, the greatest achievement is yet to come.

A New Age.

Four more years pass. It is time to reelect Sheridan. THIS IS THE PAYOFF. THIS WAS THE GOAL THE ENTIRE TIME. GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT. THERE ARE PEOPLE VOTING NOW WHO WERE BORN AND RAISED DURING SINCLAIR'S FIRST TERM. THESE PEOPLE KNEW NOTHING ELSE. THIS SYSTEM IS THE ONLY SYSTEM WHICH THEY KNOW. THIS IS THE ONLY LIFE THEY KNOW.

It is accepted. We are a space-faring people.

The Sun is Rising.

---

Peter Tatara
4.18.1999