Are Americans Welcome on Mars? A Dream?

NASA Photo

A DELEGATION OF MARTIANS ARRIVES ON EARTH. THEY LAND IN WASHINGTON, D.C. They have heard rumors about Americans wishing to move to Mars. The Martian delegation wants to figure out if Americans are qualified to be accepted on Mars. They find a few American citizens and a dialog ensues as follows. 

Martians: What kind of people you Americans are? 

Americans: We are a good people. 

Martians: What does that mean? 

Americans: We are committed to truth telling. We don't lie. 

Martians: Huh. So you elect a leader to represent you among nations of your Earth and in the galaxy who doesn't know what truth telling is. Right? What else? 

Americans: We respect each other, especially women among us. 

Martians: Huh. So you elect a leader to represent you among nations of your Earth and in the galaxy who has been convicted for abusing women. Right? What else? 

Americans: We are fair minded people. We are not consumed by revenge and retribution. 

Martians: Huh. So you elect a leader to repesent you among nations of your Earth and in the galaxy who is consumed by revenge and retribution. Right? What else? 

Americans: We are a decent people. 

Martians: Huh. So you elect a leader to represent you among nations of your Earth and in the galaxy whose language is often laced with obscneity and vulgarity. Right? What else? 

Americans: We are ...... 

Martians: Don't have to say more. We understand that you value lies, misogyny, revenge, and obscenity, among other human frailties we may not know about. Right? 

Americans: But not all of us are like that.

Martians: Maybe not. But the majority of you chose the leader whose qualities of character you admired. Right?

Americans: Perhaps you have a point here. 

Martians: Of course, we have a point here. The point is that we Martians do not want to be corrupted by you Americans. So just stay off our planet Mars. Don't pollute us.

Americans: But may be we will change in four years. 

Martians: We will keep our fingers crossed. Until then stay bound to your Earth. Mars is not for you.

The Martians then turn around, board their saucer and are gone in a jiffy. 

It is then that we wake up! Or do we?