Monday 22 June 2009

Moon men

I'm struck by the way wikipedia scrupulously records the national-cultural origins of the three USA citizens involved in Apollo 11: Armstrong, Scots-Swedish; Aldrin, Scots-German; Collins, Irish. They're important men, no question (although other key firsts are not recorded in this manner: of what originary nationality was Mission Commander of Apollo 8, the first vessel to leave immediate earth orbit, the first to circumnavigate another body of the solar system, Frank Borman? Wikipedia doesn't say).

Presumably this detail speaks to peoples' interest: I can't say, unless it is to reinforce a national and, arguably, racist narrative of three Celts: the two Scots go off for glory, the Irishman is left behind.

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