Independence day, the film...

[R1Geezer]

In this film The President makes a speech, mainly saying that we are going to have to put our own petty differences aside to fight a common enemy. Do you think that mankind could ever do that if there ever where alien invader?, I mean would all the religions see the LGM as the enemy and fight along side previously hated opposition? Would the English and French start to get a long? etc etc. This is only a hypothetical question I'm not intending to get into the whole Aliens existance debate.

[Lonnie]

I'd like to have a go at answering this if I may,

yes, I believe Mankind would co-operate together, (my enemies enemy is my friend), an old Adage, but true.

However, after the threat had been defeated, mankind would start fighting amongst themselves again. We just can't, and never will, live peaceably together, and I sincerely hope we never discover intelligent life on another planet. because we'd fight them too.

As an aside, the film you mention, is just another slant on H.G. Wells 'War of the Worlds'

[beso]

The United States would automatically expect to be in charge and would be big fights over ultimate command.

The aliens would wipe us out before this issue was settled.

[123everton]

B00dy hell Beso that is what I'd call defeatism, they have'nt even invaded yet!
The histories of empires teach us that when a common enemy is identified, unity prevails.
As an aside during the days of the Raj the British would hire mercenaries from Afghanistan as scouts etc. they would have Waziris and Afridis etc. working alongside one another even though their clans were at war. They'd get along fine, the officer in command always had to be mindful not to let them go on leave at the same time because the moment they left the camp they'd attack each other, they "forgot" once 2 men left 1 came back....
Afghanistan is a case in point, Russia invades, unity, Russia leaves pandamonium.

[Ice.Maiden]

thank goodness i've got green skin and five eyes then IaP!!!!

[jake-the-peg]

Amazing film, a civilization that can travel between stars, distroy global civilizations and is vulnerbale to a piece of software written on a Mac!

Haven't they heard of Anti-virus?

Seriously though the history of Western cultures expanding shows interesting trends. In countries like India or South America where westerners were allowed to get a foothold they went on to colonise the place and exploit it every which way.

In places like China and Japan where they were strictly regulated and stamped on when transgressions occurred maintained their independance.

[Octavius]

It is more likely that independent superpowers would try to negotiate a deal with the aliens so that they remained untouched and could assist the aliens in taking over the world.

But when all this is said and done, the fat lady sings, and at the end of the day, why on earth (or elsewhere should the case be) would we want to get along with ��the French?

[WaldoMcFroog]

WWJD, Octavius..? ;-)

[Octavius]

He would probably get along with the French, if only for some free wine.

[JonnyBoy12]

Hasn't this already happened though? I thought the film 'Independence Day' was based on a true story?

Does anyone know the author the saying "The only thing that would unite Mankind is a threat from above"?