Mack Reynolds: Potential Enemy

Summary

Humans are not exactly a peace loving species. We see danger everywhere. Evolution has equipped those of our ancestors who survived with a very strong sense of fear and the need to always protect ourselves. Those who lacked these sensibilities simply did not last as long or reproduce as well. Thus, everything is a threat to us humans until proven otherwise. And even after proven not to be an immediate threat we are still very suspicious and wary. Mack Reynolds takes this proclivity and gives us a story about the future that is both humorous and frightening because it is so sadly true. Everything, no matter how peaceful looking now, is a potential enemy and thus should be eliminated. No, must be eliminated. Otherwise who knows what will happen, eh?