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JHB

(37,381 posts)
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 01:06 PM Jul 2012

43 Years ago today, we created a symbol that anything was possible

Last edited Fri Jul 20, 2012, 01:54 PM - Edit history (1)

To insert a break into today's sad news and toxic politics



We used to build great things, achieve accomplishments that once had only been flights of fancy, and chose enduring words like "we came in peace for all mankind" rather than chest-thumping bravado.

And if you describe our economy and policies back then to today's Republicans, we were a bunch of "socialists".

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43 Years ago today, we created a symbol that anything was possible (Original Post) JHB Jul 2012 OP
"The government" did Apollo 11. I thought "government" The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2012 #1
Think of all the technology we gained. SoutherDem Jul 2012 #6
Yep, it used to be about what we can do, "together," now, it's about RKP5637 Jul 2012 #2
Well, that is sad, too. earthside Jul 2012 #3
Sometimes I get this uneasy feeling that the best times are an RKP5637 Jul 2012 #8
Sad that people don't remember that today 43 years ago humans walked on the moon SoutherDem Jul 2012 #4
Great Post GObamaGO Jul 2012 #5
There was a time when people did things like AsahinaKimi Jul 2012 #7
Same here, it's not remotely the America I grew up in and was proud of. Many RKP5637 Jul 2012 #9
space exploration has been privatized too. HiPointDem Jul 2012 #10
This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Jul 2012 #14
"the United States, which currently has no means of independently reaching space" HiPointDem Jul 2012 #17
This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Jul 2012 #18
defunding will do that. and the defunding has been the result of the transfer of national income HiPointDem Jul 2012 #19
This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Jul 2012 #20
we did great things. TeamPooka Jul 2012 #11
Was about to post on this, I am watching a DVD on the landing. edbermac Jul 2012 #12
One small step for man. One giant leap for mankind. madinmaryland Jul 2012 #13
This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Jul 2012 #15
I have attached a video clip of the event... madinmaryland Jul 2012 #16

The Velveteen Ocelot

(120,004 posts)
1. "The government" did Apollo 11. I thought "government"
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 01:08 PM
Jul 2012

was useless and incompetent and should be drowned in a bathtub.

RKP5637

(67,112 posts)
2. Yep, it used to be about what we can do, "together," now, it's about
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 01:11 PM
Jul 2012

what we can't do, and how to tear the other person/group down. The hatred in this country astounds me, we've become a bunch of slackers and in the big picture a bunch of fools. Yep, teaming and working together for a better world is seen by many today as evilness.


earthside

(6,960 posts)
3. Well, that is sad, too.
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 01:12 PM
Jul 2012

In 2012 we (the USA) cannot put a woman or man into space on one of our own rockets.

And, we have people trying to destroy the post office an essential part of communication in our nation.

There are signs that are best days are over.

The moon landing may just have been the peak of US civilization and culture -- I remember it well and with great admiration for the people who built the space program.

RKP5637

(67,112 posts)
8. Sometimes I get this uneasy feeling that the best times are an
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 01:34 PM
Jul 2012

exception and not the norm. The US continues to slide downward in rankings with other industrialized nations and I get this feeling we are not near the bottom.

It took the Great Depression to move American forward, it took Sputnik to shake America into moving ahead with the space program in a serious way. It seems great strides forward do not happen without some major event. I often wonder what the next major event might be.

SoutherDem

(2,307 posts)
4. Sad that people don't remember that today 43 years ago humans walked on the moon
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 01:12 PM
Jul 2012

What has happened to "We came in peace for all mankind"?

AsahinaKimi

(20,776 posts)
7. There was a time when people did things like
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 01:14 PM
Jul 2012

Send out CARE packages or joined the Peace Corps. Imagine what Republicans today would say about that?
This is NOT the America, I grew up in.

RKP5637

(67,112 posts)
9. Same here, it's not remotely the America I grew up in and was proud of. Many
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 01:38 PM
Jul 2012

things were not perfect, but at least it felt like we were trying to move ahead, to be a caring nation, people seemed interested in "we are in this together." Today, the country is so alien to what it once was IMO.

Response to HiPointDem (Reply #10)

 

HiPointDem

(20,729 posts)
17. "the United States, which currently has no means of independently reaching space"
Sat Jul 21, 2012, 04:36 AM
Jul 2012
http://www.krusekronicle.com/2012/05/private-spacecraft-docks-with-space-station.html

CNN) -- A private spacecraft docked with the International Space Station on Friday, a milestone in a new era of commercial space flight.

The docking happened just before 10 a.m., almost two hours later than planned. A radar system aboard the unmanned SpaceX Dragon that measures distance to the station had picked up a different part of the space station, meaning it could not dock properly, NASA said. ...

... The launch is an important step for NASA and the United States, which currently has no means of independently reaching space. NASA relies on the Russian space agency to ferry U.S. astronauts to orbit.

Response to HiPointDem (Reply #17)

 

HiPointDem

(20,729 posts)
19. defunding will do that. and the defunding has been the result of the transfer of national income
Sat Jul 21, 2012, 05:14 AM
Jul 2012

to the rich. with the result that the exploration and its fruits will be privatized.

Response to HiPointDem (Reply #19)

edbermac

(16,102 posts)
12. Was about to post on this, I am watching a DVD on the landing.
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 09:37 PM
Jul 2012

A magnificent achievement, marred by Nixon interrupting them halfway through to congratulate them.

Response to JHB (Original post)

madinmaryland

(65,120 posts)
16. I have attached a video clip of the event...
Fri Jul 20, 2012, 09:48 PM
Jul 2012


It is interesting to listen to Neil Armstrong's description of the lunar surface.

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