A little later, the Apollo mission was consummated and there were Americans on the moon. I remember distinctly looking up from the quad on what was quite a moon-flooded night, and thinking about it. They made it! The Stars and Stripes are finally flown on another orb! Also, English becomes the first and only language spoken on a neighboring rock! Who could forbear to cheer? Still, the experience was poisoned for me by having to watch Richard Nixon smirking as he babbled to the lunar-nauts by some closed-circuit link. Was even the silvery orb to be tainted by the base, earthbound reality of imperialism?

Summary

This quote describes a memorable moment in history when the Apollo mission successfully landed astronauts on the moon. The narrator recalls the excitement and pride of seeing the American flag planted on another celestial body and reflecting on how the English language is now spoken on the moon as well. However, this awe-inspiring event is tainted for the narrator as they also witness Richard Nixon, whom they perceive as a symbol of imperialism, speaking to the astronauts. The quote encapsulates a conflict between the extraordinary achievement of space exploration and the disillusionment caused by political realities.

Topics