An open letter to Tom Wolfe: Quit whining.

[strontium90]

(This was originally written as a commentary on a friend's post, which is friends-locked. I have reprinted it here, with limited editing, to make it available for friends to read and comment on.)

I'm sensing a touch of bitterness on this subject (the lack of manned, American space missions). We went to the moon! C'mon, man, that was pretty cool.

Comments

[yoshio]

No Taco Bell at Olympus Mons? Why would anyone want to visit that place?

[strontium90]

Thanks for setting me straight on the proper name of Olympus Mons. Not sure where I got the wrong one from... clearly I have just enough knowledge of Latin to butcher it :)

And obviously the reason to visit would be the souvenir T-shirt and coffee mug.

[yoshio]

I blame too much Kim Stanley Robinson and Ben Bova

Huh?

[agro23]

Wait, let me get this straight...You're arguing AGAINST space exploration

Re: Huh?

[strontium90]

I respect your views, but when you say things like "it is our destiny to expand into space the same way that bacterial spores migrate on the passing winds," and then complain about religious nuts because of *their* version of what they think our destiny ought to be... well, I think you can see where I might start to have a problem. Take a deep breath, man :)

All those neat things you mention, and many more, are indeed products of the aerospace program. Most of the really cool stuff (CD-ROMS, for example) had little if anything to do with the Apollo program.

I'm not saying I'm against space exploration. We're doing it right now. Hell, I'm even in favor of manned missions, I just don't have patience with people who don't show understanding of something bitch about the fact that someone (else) hasn't done it yet.

I haven't given up on the future, I just leave it to brats to mourn the fact that they don't own a flying car.

Re: Huh?

[agro23]

Maybe I shouldn't have said "destiny" but rather "function" or "design" because as a species we're built to reproduce and expand our territory. But I wouldn't make any equivalence between a religious nut (them) and a science nut (me). Unless you refer to my passion on the topic. We are on the brink and every little tip in the wrong direction brings it closer so I get a little worked up. :)

Re: Huh?

[strontium90]

By the way, each and every reason that you mention for needing to go into space are easily more compelling than anything Wolfe puts out there.

I really want to talk about this more, dammit. We need some way to have a couple of brews and shoot the shit about this kinda stuff. I miss that.

Maybe some kinda beer-to-beer protocol...

[angel_boi]

nicely said

[incorpore]

wow, two great statements in there that deserve to become enduring quotes

[incorpore]

Oh, and also, damn you for giving me the impulsive need to listen to "The Planets" suite, but having to wait until all my roommates are awake so that I can listen to it at the proper volume.

[strontium90]

You're welcome :)

[strontium90]

I'm gonna have to look up Suite for Euphonium and Military Band now. You've intrigued me!

Coincidentally, I was just talking about you and EAMB last night and saying y'all need to make it out to Chapel Hill one of these days. If it ever comes up that you do play in the area, we probably have room here for 4 or 5 people (if they don't mind cozy). Just sayin' ;)

[strontium90]

I can definitely see that making for some bitterness. NASA's budget is pretty tight, thanks to lingering myths of $600 hammers, so having to fork money back over to DoD contracted corporations has gotta sting.