Intelligent life

It seems to be a big to do searching the universe for intelligent life. Even "top minds" are working towards that end and there seems to be quite the media attention and ample funding. Heck even Hollywood has cashed in on this search with movies like Contact.

But, I wonder if we might have more success if we searched well, here. I mean, if more untapped intelligence was found it would increase our resources tremendously. I really doubt no one considered the pros of searching for intelligent life in our solar system, more specifically on earth.

I bet for every Einstein and Hawking there are potentially several with the same level of "intelligence" with as much or even more to contribute. I saw it all the time in college music. Very few ever get regarded by the population as great musicians, and is often the case, the ones noted represent the people's taste, but definitely not the finest of musicians. My own Hero, who I still regard as a great man, years later, wtote on his debut cd sleeve that he did not choose to be a greatly regarded musician, it sort of happened. It was his talent. He shared it. BOOM! It was cultivated to a greater degree and an incredible star is born.

I suspect that for every success, and by success I mean one whom the population as a whole becomes aware of, there are many, many who are never recognized.

I do not mean to distract from or belittle the search for intelligent life besides our own culture. I merely think, we ought to stop neglecting the search on earth. It is like how we are taught to help the nation, start by helping yourself and your family. Too often, in lieu of seeing a better way to help, we fail to focus thinking we are seeing the BIG PICTURE.

I have an example. Know those vanity mirrors that magnify? They are use to bring attention to a small blemish or flaw that might go undetected for what it is when looking at the larger image. Without the focused narrow view the big picture looks wrong, but who knows why? Maybe the better metaphor would have been a microscopic camera used by a surgeon.

I think to ever find truly intelligent life we need to first see it here. The Earth is full of untapped intelligence. Who hasn't wished their father or friend could run the country instead of the popularly chosen leader. I mean, why is someone the best one for the job necessarily?

In conclusion, I suggest we find intelligent life out there by first finding it here.