My point is that in the grand scheme of life on Earth (when considering human intelligence and technological growth), we are practically close to travelling to another star. However, the fact we haven't yet reached that point and that we don't see evidence for life suggests that there is another factor - the 'great filter' - that will prevent us from doing so.

I don't think these two points are mutually exclusive because implicit in the first statement is that we are technologically close but in the second statement the implication is that another factor (war, natural disaster, money, apathy) will prevent us from getting there.