July 20, marks 54 years since Neil Armstrong uttered the famous words “One giant step for a man, one giant leap for mankind,” and men first stepped foot on the moon. I wasn’t born yet but I can imagine how thrilling hearing those words crackling over the television must have been, especially since that astounding feat capped off a tumultuous decade.
Since then society has progressed in some areas. Technology has made communication and access to information instantaneous.
Civil rights took steps forward but racism, sexism, antisemitism and general bigotry have proven insidious. No woman or person of color has yet to set foot on the moon and the Equal Rights Act has yet to be passed. Despite electing a Black president, racists have become more outspoken. Hate crimes continue to endanger the lives of people of color. The Supreme Court rolled back access to abortion last year and by recently ruling against affirmative action, restricted people of color’s access to education.
Other issues have gotten worse. The environment is at a critical tipping point with climate change, rivers drying species dying, and a population nearing nine billion. The wealth gap has gotten wider while mass shootings have increased. By the way, we now have space junk.
Today, the world as a whole honestly doesn’t look great, but again, the sixties had its fair share of problems, full of protests, assassinations and demands for civil rights.
Someone recently pointed out to me that this county has shown dogged determination by going to the moon. Surely if we can accomplish traveling 238,855 miles into space, we can treat one another better and ensure that regardless of religion, skin color, gender or gender identity, everyone’s basic rights are secure.
The wealth gap can be addressed, mass shootings can be stopped or at least greatly reduced.
From the oceans to the skies, we can pick up our trash. We can come up with renewable energy sources, alternatives to toxic chemicals and learn to live with our environment, not against it.
There is hope in younger generations. They have already expressed frustration that so many of these long-standing issues have not been seriously dealt with.
I have watched our island youth take stands against gun violence and bigotry, and demand body autonomy. I see them working to reduce plastic waste and fighting global warming. They are searching for renewable energy sources and they are not even out of high school. If these passionate individuals keep their pace, it will not be long before they are taking that next small step for a human and a giant leap for human beings. It could be a whole new world, this time here on Earth.
