Whole Earth Catalogue

In 1968, astronaut William Anders took a photograph of the earth from the Apollo 8 spacecraft. It was the first picture of our planet as it rose over the horizon of the moon. The picture was worth a thousand words; it showed how fragile our planet was against a stark, black background. It’s been called the most influential photograph ever taken.

Last week Canadian Astronaut Marc Garneau, a Liberal Party candidate in the Federal election, invited Gilles Duceppe, the leader of the sovereigntist Bloc Quebecois, to a trip into space to appreciate the earth’s unique place in the universe. Said Garneau,
“I’d really love to go for a fourth trip into space with ...Mr. Duceppe...I am convinced that after such a trip Quebec Sovereignty will no longer be an issue. Space travel affects us that much.”

In Toronto, where local groups are rallying for gun control and increased social services in the Black community to fend off future violence, Taj Nelson, a reformed youth worker said “we all need to be in this together. “ He talked about the importance for the public to understand that young people are very interested in getting out of crime and criminal activities. “These kids are intelligent and have talent, but have too much time to themselves and need choices.”

Garneau and Nelson were sending the same message: we’re all in this together. The fact that Duceppe laughed off the remark by Garneau and Toronto’s politicians barely registered beyond the law and order response to gun violence, proves to me, that our political leaders are out of touch with the people. The current Federal election campaign, which is as flat as a Zamfir recording, has no edges to offend or lead or challenge us. It’s polite, superficial and passionless. Tomorrow’s televised pseudo-debate will prove my point.

What happened to the big picture? Where’s the vision for a country that should strive for more equality between the rich and the poor?

Maybe we all could use a trip into space.

That’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.

Further reading: http://www.abc.net.au/science/moon/earthrise.htm