The Fermi Paradox - Are we alone in the Universe?

As a child I was mesmerized by Arthur C. Clarke's '2001: A Space Odyssey' but I wish I could ask him what he meant to say with 'Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.' The statement always sounded absurd to me. Why? We is One existing as two not to be alOne. One is not external. One is Self. Oneself Is. The purpose for otherness is to experience togetherness. That which desires togetherness is Self.  How could Self thus be terrified of itself? It is absurd. Fear is born out of ignorance. Ignorance of knowing there is no such thing as division and that diversity exist for Companionship. Let me thus repeat. Self is all One but desires not to be alOne which is why diversity exists. Diversity exists for Companionship. There is nothing to be anxious about. Anxiety is caused by seeing division where there is none; division is a biological impossibility.~ Wald