One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap for Mankind

Michael Balter 7/16/2009 06:21:00 AM Politics


I hate to be a spoilsport, but is anybody else as ready to scream as I am if I hear this phrase one more time? (Oh, the BBC just did it again--aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhhh!)

If NASA really wants to impress us, perhaps they could come up with a Space Shuttle that does not endanger the lives of its astronauts every time it is launched (falling debris again this time), and oh, how about putting a woman on the moon? "One small step for woman, one giant leap for womankind." I wouldn't mind hearing that for the next 40 years if I didn't have to hear about the guy ever again.

Thanks for letting me get that out of my system. What are blogs for if not for bloviating and ventilating? (um, I mean, democratically expressing our viewpoints as citizens.)

Credit & Copyright: Stefan Seip
Michael Balter

Posted by Michael Balter

I have been a working journalist for more than 40 years, beginning in Los Angeles as an investigative reporter and then in Paris as a travel, food, and science writer. For more than 20 years I have covered anthropology and archaeology writer for Science, Audubon, Scientific American, SAPIENS, and other publications. I have also covered sexual misconduct for The Verge, Scientific American, and others; I write about mental health, especially schizophrenia; and I engage in occasional media criticism. I returned to the USA in October 2017 after 30 years in Paris, and now live in the New York City area, where I currently teach journalism at City College of New York (I previously taught journalism at Boston University and New York University.) For more about me and what I do, copies of my articles, information about my book, and other goodies, please visit MY WEB SITE

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3 Comments

Anonymous said…
As a side note, I hope some are noting that Neil Armstrong's supposedly botched delivery has been re-examined in recent years...

Looks like he did say "small step for A man"

"Armstrong 'got Moon quote right'"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5398560.stm
July 16, 2009 at 5:20 PM
Anne Gilbert said…
I guess I don't really mind the "one small step for man", stuff too much. That first landing was quite an accomplishment, in its day!

Oh, and that picture accompanying the story was absolutely marvelous! I collect them and use them as wallpaper at times.
Anne G
July 16, 2009 at 11:45 PM
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