Philosophical Reflection on E.T.

I borrowed a simplified book on E.T. (the extra-terrestrial) from NEXSUS last week. E.T. has a big fame, but I hadn’t known what it talks about. That’s why I borrowed this pamphlet.
After reading the book, I was deeply moved and thought of the following question:
How should we treat a stranger?

It was inevitably that we are self-oriented in so far as we know ourselves first. Consequently, we are inclined to perceive our thoughts as the mere correct way and use this standard to judge others. If others have different opinions with us, it was they that must be wrong.
Given we harboring above trend, when we meet an alien, what will we do?

Naturally, we regard it as an object, the same way that scientists deal with E.T. Since it has no relation to us, we treat it anyway we like. We may study it, sell it, prison it, and even kill it.

However, it isn’t the way that Elliott did. E.T. is a member of his family. I am really moved by the imagination that E.T. could have the same thought as that of Elliott. In the movie of E.T. (I couldn’t help watching the movie after reading), Steven Spielberg designed a humorous plot, that is, when E.T. stayed at home watching sweethearts kissing, simultaneously, Elliott did so to his classmates in class. This is a joke; however, I cried when Elliott repeated “E.T. phone home”. He expressed what was in E.T.’s heart. Through this plot, I think the direct wants to convey a piece of important information to us, that is, E.T is part of Elliott.

Can you imagine that an alien becomes part of your life? In other words, we share our existence with others, or we broke the barrier of ourselves. When we do so, the world will extend to the whole universe! In some sense, I argue that E.T. symbolizes the universe because he comes from outside us.

Coming to reality, we have to admit that it is difficult, and it is so rare that it can only happen on children, those who haven’t immersed in the mundane world yet. It sounds too pessimistic. But it is the truth; otherwise, why don’t we take a more glimpse at the poor, the diseased, and the miserable?

As far as I am concerned, if we are cool, the world is cold. In reality, we just put ourselves into the prison by rejecting others. However, if we are open to others, we will harvest tender sentiment. Although it is thin, it is of essence and common. That’s why millions of people are moved by the story of E.T. But is it because we are short of love and care in daily life? If so, we’d better give these to others as much as we can, no matter we can be paid off or not. And this is part of the meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice. In Christian, the whole world is changed by him. I agree.