03 October 2011

To explore in peace

In 1969 two men landed on the moon without full certainty that they would be able to take-off again. William Safire drafted the following in case Michael Collins was forced to abandon his two compatriots on the moon:

Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace

These brave men, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, know that there is no hope for their recovery. But they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice.

These two men are laying down their lives in mankind’s most noble goal: the search for truth and understanding.

They will be mourned by their families and friends; they will be mourned by the nation; they will be mourned by the people of the world; they will be mourned by a Mother Earth that dared send two of her sons into the unknown

3 comments:

  1. Imagine the generation of children who would have grown up saying to one another, "Two men died up there." I never knew this speech existed. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Looking at the moon not as a place of wonder and discovery, but a graveyard - a giant glowing tombstone.

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  3. Isn't not exactly brimming with though, little sister still born Moon. Twin transfusion syndrome can be a bitch. Still maybe the sacrifice was key to our existence.

    http://newhumanist.org.uk/2601/moon-dance

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