Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
	"A multinational, manned expedition should be sent to Mars."
Please review the arguments for and against the statement and enter your response.
		Pros In his poem "Ulysses," Tennyson expresses one of the noblest characteristics of the human race - "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." In spite of seemingly insurmountable odds, exploration of the unknown has been a basic theme of history. A manned exploration of Mars is the natural extension of the human spirit. It is the natural fulfillment of human destiny.
		Cons Yes, overcoming insurmountable odds and exploring the unknown is an admirable goal. However, not all difficult tasks are of equal value. A manned expedition to Mars is unnecessary; robotic probes have done the job very well. It would be much more fiscally and ethically responsible to invest the resources of planet earth in other areas of exploration and research. Imagine what it would mean to millions of people if we could solve the problems of hunger, disease, and the eroding environment. The glamour of space travel distracts us from what is truly important, the basic needs of our fellow human beings.
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