Hi Folks,

After reading many of the posts here, I can't help but see how many wish to poo-poo on Clarkes statements as senility, etc.

The problem is as SPACE enthusiasts who WISH TO RETURN to MANNED SPACE EXPLORATION - we should be POUNDING THE DESKS WITH OUR SHOES.

Just because the 'Cydonaut' crowd quotes it for there own ends - should not mean we drop our britches and take a leak on it just because of their activities.

The only way we can get into space - and I think Clarke knows this inwardly - is to DRUM up excitement and DREAMS.

Yes, maybe it's fungus. Maybe there are no Banyan trees. But if WE - the CORE SPACE FANS dont TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A 'GIFT' - FROM someone who is respected and has the MEDIA's ear...

Then WE are CUTTING OFF OUR NOSE TO SPITE OUR FACE.

We should be activists - the same way the left gets attention from the media - must be our weapons.

When will an African American get to be on the moon - or better yet be THE FIRST MAN ON MARS!

When will a WOMAN set foot on the moon!

When will we UNDERSTAND THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT (WHICH IS GOING TO KILL US ALL!) BETTER BY GOING TO MARS.

You see what I'm getting at? This is a group of sharp folks on this BBS - if we can't engineer a stealth media campaign to promote MARS intelligently - who can!!!

By turning space issues into political correct forums we will get far more play than Malin, Zubrin or anyone could ever DREAM OF.

Science alone doesn't sell. Trust me. Even the 'noble ideals' doesn't sell.

It HAS to be FUNDAMENTAL FAIRNESS and EQUALITY.

It is easy to say that things will happen in the future. It is harder to sit down and make them happen.

However when Congress is strongarmed by a million persons demanding we send people to Mars and the moon again - they will take notice.

Avalanches start with a single loosening snow-flake. Let's be that snowflake - shall we?

My opinion,

SDAI-Tech1

PS
I say this because in the future - with each passing year - space exploration will get further out of our reach. The Apollo folks are almost all gone. People are buying into the moon hoax scenario, and computers and DVDs have consumed the spare time of two generations. It will not get easier than it is NOW. It will only get much, much harder.