• Rusty Shackleford@programming.dev
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    edit-2
    10 hours ago

    Human achievement is something to be proud of, no matter which nation-state one hails from. The Apollo program was a triumphant achievement of ingenuity that spawned many important ancillary technologies and industrial applications, especially in aeronautics, computer science, and diagnostic medicine worldwide. Our understanding of our planet’s moon, our solar system, and the greater cosmos and the exploration thereof are noble pursuits.

    It’s understandable to want to express pride at being from the country that accomplished this aeronautical feat. Whereas, someone from Russia would want to celebrate Yuri Gagarin and Valentina Terashkova, the first man and woman in space, respectively. Someone from Ohio would perhaps be happy to share their heritage with John Glenn.

    It’s a problem when people lord the achievements of those who share their national or ethnic heritage over others as a cheap way to score points in an argument, but, in a general sense, space exploration is important for scientific and technical development of our species.

    To answer your second question, I personally care about the moon landing because I want humanity to reach a Type 2 civilization on the Kardashev Scale. The Apollo program was one small step on that road, and it reminds me of humanity at its best.