My neighbor thrust the series From the Earth to the Moon into my hands and urged me to watch it. The last thing I need in my life is another four DVD box set, so I reluctantly opened it today while I was home sick from work. I have been loving every minute. I'm glad that my knowledge of the space race is scant, so each episode has a surprise ending for me. I have been thinking about the similarities and differences between military and astronaut wives. I have been thinking about the technology race with the Soviets and how it's the last time we've had real competition as a nation. I've been thinking about how this competition drove us to put a man on the moon in a decade, which should have been unthinkable and often was dangerous. I've been thinking about all the poor astronauts who aren't named Aldrin, Armstrong, or Glenn and how underappreciated they are. I've been thinking and getting goosebumps all evening, and I highly recommend the series if you have the chance to see it.
Posted by Sarah at January 10, 2005 09:09 PMSarah,
That is a wonderful series. It is fascinating and technologically interesting and factual. A very well done series. I love it and watch it all the time.
That said, it is also one of the finest stories of American spirit in the world. I was 11 yrs old, lying on my back at camp watching the moon, and listening to the news on a transistor radio the counselor brought with us that night in 1969 when Armstrong and Aldrin set foot on the moon. It made your heart swell with pride to be an American in those days. Liberals have no clue how much that means to a human spirit. It helps us survive and to continue doing good deeds when we know our country is trying valiantly to do the right thing for the world.
As I have grown older, I sometimes marvel at how similar many Americans are in their quest for excellence, and their desire to do what is needed, when it is needed, with professionalism and with determination. That is something that Sri Lankans, Indonesians, Sumatrans, Syrians, Iranians, and Iraqis should reflect on. And that pride and professionalism began long before Man -- American Men -- began that long, dangerous and arduous journey, on the slimmest of human and technological margins -- from the Earth to the Moon.
Subsunk
Posted by: Subsunk at January 11, 2005 05:24 AMAhhhh. My favorite DVD set. I don't let anyone touch it, I'll load it into the player, thank you very much.
I'll admit it, the whole thing makes me cry.
Posted by: Jason at January 11, 2005 04:05 PMPerhaps the pinicale of man's acheivement, and you grew up knowing very little about it. That is sad...and an indictment of our school systems here in this (USA) country. They don't teach enough history!
One of my greatest fears is my grandchildren will grow up not believing that man actually set foot on the moon. "Now grandpa, you know it didn't really happen!"
Posted by: LCB at January 11, 2005 04:29 PMApparently they don't teach spelling either, because I let a couple slip through...that's what happens when you get used to Word Spellcheck!
Posted by: lcb at January 11, 2005 04:30 PM