I barely remember the moon landings. Not the first one, but definitely the following ones. What I do remember is how they affected me. Seeing the Earth as just an island planet in a sea of void. "We're all in this together. So we might as well get along." Struck more deeply than it seems most of my fellow humans.
I say this because instead of being inspired by this event and evolving socially and ethically, as a species, we are devo. We began to de-evolve soon after the vividness of those memories faded. We didn't conquer hunger and poverty. It has grown 20 fold. Wars have become an economic necessity for our government and pollution has grown to the inconvenient truth that most in the world continue to deny.
Forty years ago a man walked on the moon a quarter of a million miles away. Within ten years we stopped sending our astronauts further than a few hundred miles into space. Thirty years ago you could cross the Atlantic in less than 3 and half hours including your time at the airport. Those planes have been grounded and you have to wait almost that long to get on your international flight. Thirty years ago there were solar panels on the White House. They were taken down by the following President and have not been put back. Our public transportation has barely changed and our educational system has gone from a national priority to a nation of apologists.
Without equal rights universally for people of all genders and sexual orientations we cannot say we have won against intolerance.
Some say we have made great strides in racial equality, but then why is Africa, with its vast natural resources of gold, oil and diamonds, the most impoverished of continents?
Forty years is not a long time, but it is the average lifetime of a man in West Africa.
What have we done in that lifetime?
While we remember that incredible moment 40 years ago, we should reflect not on the achievement of the moment, but the perspective it gave us. One bright blue and green island surrounded by the lack of color.
We share it.
If we don't care for it, the color will fade and so shall we all.
iCoverbook from Charlie Berendsen on Vimeo.
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