if there are negative intentions.

I for one would find it far more likely that lifeforms rather unlike us would be the first to make contact. Or at least, it would be far easier to swallow. Any group going to great lengths to make us comfortable (or drop our guard) would be more likely to have negative intent. Aliens faced with both the interest in meeting others/trading experience -and- the barrier of earing trust due to patent dissimilarity, would be most likely to earn my initial trust. It would take humility to work at cross-understanding on both our parts. To see ourselves in something dissimilar, and to learn from it, would be wonderful, especially if it went both ways.

It is always important to say...beware Greeks bearing gifts.

The ethics and social repercussions of meeting the Other would be indescribably significant. There are still those who raise the rebel flag against the North winning the Civil War, and freeing the African-American. We've seen blatant racism in the Katrina debacle, straight from the Bush pod, as well as against Obama during and after the election. It's still there, despite what Lincoln did for us. So, imagine what effect the Significantly Other would have.

I've read many excellent books on the subject, but wonder if any of them would truly capture the extent of such an event and its aftermath. Part of me longs to see; part of me fears it. If I have fear, then others may have terror, or not enough security in weltanschauung for it to be considered safe.

I just don't know.