From: David Madison (maddad_at_Maddad.org)
Date: Sat Nov 01 2003 - 17:17:10 PST
The SETI effort is commendable, especially for its pan-global cooperation.
Raise your Flag of Earth wherever SETI is the theme. However, the landing
on the Moon deserves the American flag because it is entirely an American
accomplishment.
If Sam Smith builds a house then it is appropriate for him to place a plaque
above the doorway saying, "Built by the Smiths". Sam would laugh if Joe
Blow down the street says, "Wait a minute; you need to include the Blow
family name on that plaque as well because I live on this street too!" Joe
spent none of his own money building the house, and he gave none of his own
sweat to the construction either. The accomplishment is Sam's alone and it
is Sam's right alone to decide on the plaque for his home.
America put men on the Moon. Not the Soviet Union, not China, not Japan,
not Germany, not France, and not any other country or even all other
countries combined. We did. At colossal expense and will, we did.
The very existence of 34 years with no other country having matched our feat
gives eloquent testimony to its difficulty. Only recently has the third
country ever, China, momentarily reached low Earth orbit. The Moon is a
thousand times as far away and requires life support for many days, not just
minutes.
Leave the PC police in their barracks and allow the Moon landing its
rightful place as America's accomplishment. Let my American flag fly with
well earned pride.
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