"Some way, when those two Americans stepped on the Moon, the people of this world were brought closer together. That it is that spirit, the spirit of Apollo, that America can now help bring to our relations with other countries."
-- President Richard Nixon
Excitement Everywhere
Almost all of the citizens of the world sat next to their television screens and stared intently at the events unfolding in front of them. They could witness the unprecedented leap of perspective. Man had reached the moon, a place that was once only a surreal image in the night sky. Even Soviet scientists gathered around a television to watch this historic moment. Of course, the Soviets' excitement was tinged with slight bitterness over the fact that the United States had beaten the USSR to the moon.
What People Felt Like All Over the World
Plaque and Disk
While Armstrong and Aldrin were up on the moon, they left behind a plaque and a silicon disk.
In this plaque, Americans did not distinguish themselves from everyone else. That is because before they are Americans, they are citizens of Earth. This plaque symbolized unification because this was an achievement for mankind.
|
This silicon disk was etched with goodwill messages from 73 countries. Although not visible to the naked eye, the messages can be viewed with a low-power microscope.
|
Giant Leap for Mankind
After sending men to a different world, the unity of our world increased. For just one special moment, everyone forgot about boundaries and just looked up. There was the moon. Not America's moon, not Soviet Union's moon, not China's moon, not Canada's moon, but the entire world's moon! Geographical location did not matter. Man had stepped on the moon. That's what mattered.
That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" |
The "one small step for man" is referring to America beating the USSR in the Space Race. The "giant leap for mankind' is referring to the world becoming one while watching Apollo 11.
|
Apollo 11 touched something that was hard-wired into humans since the beginning of time: the need to explore. Mankind fulfilled this desire and in the process, created a unification that is still strong to this very day.