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We Went To The Moon Submitted by Ross Elliot on Mon, 2006-06-19 05:43.
[reprised from the SOLOHQ archive in response to the current public fascination with 9/11 conspiracy theories] There's a vicious little conspiracy theory about that maintains that Man never set foot on the moon. That it was a hoax. A lie. It goes something like this: The Cold War was in full swing. President Kennedy had committed the United States to a moon landing as a counter to the early Soviet space successes. However, NASA discovered that it was an impossible task. So they decided to fake it; to save face for America and to show superiority over the Soviets. And, with the full knowledge of thousands of officials, scientists, engineers and of course, the astronauts themselves, they filmed the moon landings on a massive lunar movie set. Then they kept it a secret for over 30 years. Wow. Those NASA guys are good. The evidence to "prove" this theory is contained in supposed photographic irregularities and in scientific anomalies. Books have been written. Television documentaries have been broadcast. Millions of dollars have been raked in. And a gullible public, eager to swallow the latest sensation hook, line, and sinker, have fallen for it in droves. They have become disbelievers, doubters, cynics. Never mind the hundreds of kilos of moon rocks, rocks which do not exist on Earth, or the testimony of the astronauts themselves, for they must all be complicit in the lie. This stupidity is taken seriously. The "evidence" is recited, mantra-like, with complete disregard for the facts. This particular theory has gained widespread support, and not just among those who believe Elvis is alive and well and delivering pizzas for a living in Little Rock, Arkansas. It's the same sort of ruse that has people believing that the ozone layer is thinning or that the polar ice is melting. It's based on half-truths, pseudo-science, conjecture and credulity. So, what's it all about? Well, on the surface it's a great way for charlatans to make lots of money off Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Ripe Suck, but there's also something deeper at play. This is an example of the revisionist method of historical analysis, where past events are reinterpreted in the dull light of modern cynicism and corrupt agenda. The disturbing trend is that these crackpot theories aren't being perpetrated and believed by the loony left or the gothic greens, but by the average man in the street. A generation debilitated by bloated welfarism, public miseducation and political chicanery, yet protected and sustained by the abundance, freedom and security of capitalism, have come to regard reality as nothing more than a subjective assemblage of debatable opinions, as something to which they are not subject, as something they can disregard without consequence. Even the truth of recent history is up for grabs. Those who resist these trends are required to prove that reality exists, to reduce and disassemble the axiomatic, to show that history is not a lie and to provide evidence, for instance, that we actually went to the moon. The tables have been turned. Reality has become unreal and subjectivity the only standard with which to judge—that is, to not judge. Well, I for one know that Man, in all his glory, went to the moon. That it was his single greatest technological achievement, made possible by the abundance and discipline that freedom promotes. That during this time our science, technology, courage and ego reached a zenith to which they properly belong. That the sight of a beloved human standing on an inhospitable rock in a glorious white spacesuit, 250,000 miles from his home, looking back to see, hanging in the starfield, the blue and green ball that gave birth to him, is the proper vision and purpose of humanity. To prohibit that vision from the mind of Man, to seek to discredit it, and to sneer at those who celebrate it, is a terrible indictment on so many empty souls. Well, Elvis is dead, the polar ice is not melting, the ozone layer is doing just fine, and Man did go to the moon. And I hope one day we can find the courage to send him back, because reaching for the stars is Mankind's proper destiny, and landing on the moon was not only a giant leap forward but a wonderful fulfillment of Man's promise. Here's the real story
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Technology has certainly
Technology has certainly taken a dive. In 1969 we landed on the moon. In 1986 and in 2003 the shuttle and crew met with unfortunate disaster. The shuttle is antiquated. It's sad to see the entropy of heroic space endeavors, although seeing SpaceShip One fly into the starry heights gives one hope for a space technological revival.
Good on you Lindsay
You are a brave and patient man with great tolerance and understanding,thankyou for putting up with me it means a lot to me to be here,and you never know some of you wisdom just might eventualy sink in.
Linz
My post was in response to Victor’s rather simplistic answer to Peri’s question; I was being facetious. I don’t question your, or SOLO’s independence.
"... reaching for the stars
"... reaching for the stars is Mankind's proper destiny, and landing on the moon was not only a giant leap forward but a wonderful fulfillment of Man's promise."
Well said! I'm encouraged that private enterprise now plays a greater role in space exploration.
Ayn Rand herself attended
Ayn Rand herself attended the launch of Apollo 11. Wouldn't she have to be involved in the cover up? Yeah, that's what I thought. We landed on the moon.
www.adambuker.com
Ross
So, they'd trust a *dictatorship* based on one hairy fly-past rather than the world's most open society having performed six lunar landings!
Of course they would, a vast number of people believe exactly what they choose to believe whether there is a logical basis to it or not.
L W
Further to the China
Further to the China thing.
I was able to gauge the depth of anti-Americanism inherent in the moon landing conspiracy theory when several people, quite independently, said they'd only believe we landed on the moon when China did a fly-past with one of it's recce missions.
So, they'd trust a *dictatorship* based on one hairy fly-past rather than the world's most open society having performed six lunar landings!
ARIan Invasion?
I’m new to this site and I don’t want to stir the pot, but I was under the impression that SOLO was independent of both ARI and TOC, the “3rd way”, so to speak. A conspiracy theorist might believe that an ARIan invasion of SOLO is underway.
Nope. SOLO *is* independent of ARI & TOC/KASSless Society. But partisans of both are free to participate here, and even—horreurs!—engage each other. Formerly, KASSless dominated by ARIan default. Latterly, the ARIans have come out of their cloisters—and the KASSless ones have evaporated! They have slunk off to *their* cloisters, trounced!
Just the way the cookie has crumbled. Who knows, there might be a rearguard re-invasion by the KASSless some time, but I'm not holding my breath.
SOLO is SOLO. It eschews dogmatism, bigotry, anal-retentive piss-up-oneselfness, solipsistic monologuing, weasel-worded dilution and head-in-sand cowardice all at the same time!
ARI & KASSless should both be applauded whenever they get something right. In that regard, ARI are right now crowding the applause-o-meter, & KASSless aren't even registering.
Linz
CHINA TO PUT A MAN ON THE
CHINA TO PUT A MAN ON THE MOON BY 2024 - EXPERT
BEIJING: A top official in China's space programme has set 2024 for
the country's first moonwalk, a Hong Kong newspaper reported,
cementing its position as a new space power.
ARI
I’m new to this site and I don’t want to stir the pot, but I was under the impression that SOLO was independent of both ARI and TOC, the “3rd way”, so to speak. A conspiracy theorist might believe that an ARIan invasion of SOLO is underway.
Hi Peri
One answer: Support ARI
Victor: Objectivist--writer--artist.
Conspiracy Theories
A deeper concern is, how and why do so many people believe conspiracy theories these days? I agree that there are a lot of people in this country who are willfully ignorant. I am interested in how the culture can be changed, and I'm interested in hearing others ideas on this matter.
Peri
The then USSR would have
The then USSR would have spent massive amounts of money to disprove our landing if they believed it to be a hoax. Other than some propaganda released in their own country which I seem to recall reading of, I don't remember any big outcry of the hoax nature from them.
We had six human landings on the moon, and like Peri stated, to keep that big of a conspiracy involving all those people under wraps would have been staggering. It's human nature that sooner or later somebody is going to spill the beans if there are a number of people involved.
L W
Conspiracy Theories
What strikes me about conspiracy theories is that people actually believe so many people could keep a secret. Some of the more way-out or disturbing facts (various efforts to kill Castro; the Tuskeegee experiment; et. al) have all seen the light of day. Surely something as big as a faked Moon landing would have been blown out of the water by now.
I love it, Ross. Anything
I love it, Ross. Anything about the Apollo missions tugs at my heart strings. Every time I look at the moon I think, "Men walked around on that thing."
Wha..?
Come on, Ross—everybody knows Elvis works at Burger King in Kalamazoo.
Victor: Objectivist--writer--artist.