I know I've said it before, and I'm gonna say it again, even if probably not too many people may agree with me.
Today should be a national holiday.
For those of you who aren't aware (and since most people AREN'T aware, which is why I believe most people wouldn't agree that today should be a national holiday), today is the 53rd anniversary of one of the pinnacle achievements of humanity, the landing of Apollo 11 on the moon. It marked a time when people worked together to achieve a singularly unique goal, a goal that was not easy to reach, and then all cheered en masse when that goal was accomplished. It proved what humans could go when they actually worked together on a project, and didn't devolve into partisan sniping, bickering, or a “what's in it for me” mentality.
And if for no other reason, maybe THAT'S why it should declared a national holiday.
After all, it's not like we've done anything similar in the 53 years since. I sometimes stand, jaw agape, at the wonder of the situation—over half a century ago we sent people to another celestial body, and then gave up. You wouldn't think it'd be hard to do it again—after all, the technology worked the first time—but it is. We're too busy fighting with each other over every single stupid little thing to actually step back and realize what our mothers and fathers and grandparents did over 50 years ago, and to realize that, if we had the desire and daring to do it again, we could.
If they were able to do it with the technology they had, imagine what we could do with the tech we have today. But over the past five decades, even though plans have been put forth to replicate that amazing achievement—or, god forbid, even surpass it—nothing has ever happen. Nothing.
And since, the way things are going, it could very well be another 53 years before we succeed in attempting to replicate what occurred 53 years ago today, maybe we should just declare the day a national holiday, if for no other reason to remind people what CAN be accomplished if we put our minds and our collective will behind it.
Or maybe that's just me.
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