Humankind's 'progress'

I greatly enjoyed Dimitri Vassilaros' column " Shop till you drop " (Nov. 28 and PghTrib.com), which suggested that "wanting more" encourages "progress."

Yes, but ...

Apparently, for about 6 million years, mankind was confined to a relatively small area (northeastern Africa) of planet Earth. About 50,000 years ago, mankind seems to have wandered to other areas -- mostly to places that are colder. Mankind was able to survive these colder, less-hospitable climates by being clever -- it would seem.

Currently mankind is planning, by again being clever, to wander out from Earth to the Moon, Mars and beyond -- mostly to places that are even more cold and even less hospitable.

But is this march into the cold and the inhospitable "progress?" Has "wanting more" duped mankind into a colder, less-hospitable future• Are humans bright or are humans just naturally not very bright after all -- at least in terms of the overall scheme of nature and the universe?

Dennis Bogdan

Baldwin Borough