Tomorrow is the anniversary of the most significant event in the history of the world. July 20 is the anniversary of mankind stepping on another celestial body within our solar system.
July 20, 2025 will be the fifty-sixth (56) anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landing on the Moon, then taking that first step on to the lunar surface, while Michael Collins stayed in orbit. Armstrong uttered that now famous phrase “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” He later said he meant to say ‘One small step for a man”, bringing more differentiation between his singular achievement and the benefit to all mankind. There has been much debate over whether the “a man” was actually said and if it might have been obscured by static or just bad radio conditions. Either way, arguing that point undermines the true wonder of the event.
Sadly, this day is almost forgotten in modern culture. It is not celebrated. It does not make the evening news, aside from a mention in “this day in history” segments.
If the human populace of this world can’t grasp why this is such a important point of history, and no longer has the will to travel among the stars, then maybe they are better off staying on this little ball of rock. Some of us though still remember and long to see what’s out there. Neil de Grasse Tyson tells us that nearly everything “out there” is dangerous and trying to kill us. Well, that’s true for a lot of things on this dustball too.
I’ve stated before that I want my remains launched into space to follow the same path the Voyager probe (either one) took. I think it is likely to be the only way I will ever get off this rock and see what is out there. Maybe some alien civilization will come across my remains and somehow genetically engineer a new “me”. It won’t be the “me” I think of as myself, but I”ll be out there kicking around the stars. As the old saying goes “the meek shall inherit the Earth. The rest of us will move out to the stars.”
This is another one of those topics where I feel like I’m screaming into the void, my Hordeling. I hope someone out there, maybe you, will continue to remember this day and maybe push the human race forward a bit more to leaving the nest. I can only hope.
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