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235 precluding the independent historical evolution of the less powerful society. Whether this is good or bad is a matter of opinion. “I would like to see our culture merge with the other one,” said Von Hoerner. “If there is a galactic culture, a galactic club, then why not join it? We would lose our own present culture, or what we think is a culture, and merge into a larger way of life. This is the only way it should go.””” No significant change in the rate of progress can be brought about by intervention from outer space, Soviet scientists warned, unless the recipient society is to lose its individuality. Ulmschneider thought that we could never again pursue our own destiny and follow the unique and individual- istic expression of life on Earth. Even the optimistic Harrison raised the question of preserving our identity.'® The malaise of “future shock” already seen in Earthly societies is but a foretaste of what may happen after contact with superior extraterrestrials, according to Pinotti. He foresaw an “authority crisis” and a “chain reac- tion” of anomie. Donald Tarter, also a sociologist, thought that cultural, theological, and philosophical knowledge obtained from extraterrestrial intelligence could weaken and perhaps destroy allegiance to existing human institutions.’ The impact could be stretched out if alien communications were difficult to understand. Anthropologist Ben Finney cautioned that extreme pro- nouncements exaggerate the probable speed and magnitude of the impact of radio contact and ignore the problem of intercivilizational comprehen- sion. Judging from the record of cultural misunderstanding between closely related human groups, comprehending a totally different civilization light- years away and absorbing the meaning of whatever messages were sent would be a slow and tedious process. Some scientists predict that gathering, deciphering, and distributing information from a more advanced civiliza- tion could take decades or centuries.” Jastrow’s Pessimism On this planet, astronomer Robert Jastrow asserted, contact between scientifically advanced civilizations and others typically results in the destruction of the less developed culture. Regardless of whether the intent of the technically advanced civilization is destructive or benign, the powerful forces at its command tear apart the fabric of the less advanced society. Such was the fate of the early Native Americans, Australian aborigines, and Polynesians. These have been the consequences of contact between two civiliza- tions separated by only some tens of thousands of years of cultural evolution. What may be expected of a meeting between civilizations separated by a billion years? “Will we survive the encounter?,” Jastrow asked rhetorically. “I see no grounds for optimism.” Cultural Shock