Going to Mars is the same idea of leaving the Rift Valley and leaving humanity's roots to see elsewhere. It's the same idea of going into a boat west and then

Going to Mars is the same idea of leaving the Rift Valley and leaving humanity's roots to see elsewhere. It's the same idea of going into a boat west and then realizing there's a continent West of Europe. It's the same desire when you're a kid and told in strong words to only walk on the sidewalk and then dash and try to cross the road by yourself because there's something interesting out there. It doesn't make sense at all to go to Mars and may prove useless to us. Who knows. But humans are driven by more than "practical level"