Something I just thought I would share...
I always thought that nationalism was a thing only found in one's SS textbook. Apparently not.
In December, I think, my family was taken a car ride. It was night, and I think it was a full moon. So I decided to tell everyone about
Chang'e 3. I wish I hadn't.
My mother thought it was very funny that the Chinese actually landed on the Moon and that we did it in the 1960s with people. I rebuffed that [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_24"]no one had landed (well, intentionally soft landed) on the Moon since 1976[/ame] and that NASA could've but didn't. At this point, it turned into a argument about whose space program was
, China's or ours. You can guess which one I chose...
After we got back on topic, she pointed out that China makes bootlegs of everything, including their [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelsat_708"]satellites[/ame] and
rockets. I countered with the explanation that China brought the technology from Russia and that their rocket designs are original. I added on by mentioning that at least China has a
space station they built themselves while we have to share [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station"]one[/ame]. I also informed her that the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylab"]only station 100% American[/ame] had a rather embarrassing fall back to Earth over Australia (even though I like it, it was for the sake of the argument) and how NASA never paid the bill. I also might've mentioned our current lack of a independent space vehicle (which is a serious problem now) and how China is one of only two who still have such a thing (and how they can autonomously dock while we couldn't)
Just for good measure, I also mentioned how crappy our [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle"]last vehicle[/ame] was.
It was at this point that she stopped [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai_Veracruz"]the car[/ame] and looked at me and said that she didn't like "my current lack of patriotism". I never thought I hear the word
patriotism come flying out her mouth at me, so I shut up.
Moral of the story? Never talk about space exploration to someone who has seen the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Race"]First Golden Age[/ame] of it, and then some.
NOTE: Some of the aforementioned arguments are somewhat unfounded. But we were ranting. My personal opinions are not necessarily reflected in this post either :thumbup:
