(CNN)—Sitting in a meeting at NASA’s Science Advisory Committee on Monday afternoon, I heard the news that Sally Ride had died. She was important to everyone in that room—mostly space scientists and NASA officials. But for a handful of women like me, she was an irreplaceable leader.
Her wife of 28 years will not be able to receive her pension.
Her wife of 28 years will not be able to inherit without tax, any of her belongings.
It is long past time for marriage equality.
On that basis, why should we hero worship anyone for their accomplishments? Just because someone plays a sport well, has a good set of vocal cords for singing, plays a musical instrument well, comes up with a scientific discovery - they are just people so why should we revere them? Let’s burn all the biography books and get rid of all the awards of various kinds.
On that basis, why should we hero worship anyone for their accomplishments? Just because someone plays a sport well, has a good set of vocal cords for singing, plays a musical instrument well, comes up with a scientific discovery - they are just people so why should we revere them? Let’s burn all the biography books and get rid of all the awards of various kinds.
Is it a good point? I am not so sure. Occam is asking the wrong question since we in fact do worship our “heroes.” The word “should” makes no sense here. What we need to ask is “why do we hero-worship anyone for their accomplishments?”.
Ride is a hero to some of you here for the same reason why some people dislike broccoli. It’s simply a matter of taste.
My heroes are those individuals who fought the odds to accomplish their goals and serve as an object lesson to others that anyone can reach their objective in life with hard work and a little luck. Ride broke the sex barrier to become the first woman in space and I’m certain NASA just didn’t hand her the job. she obviously had the “right stuff” (pardon the cliche’) so kudos to her even after being kicked in the teeth because of her sexual preference. Gaining her position marked a milestone in space exploration. After all, she did what few humans have accomplished.
But I do agree with Mike here that neither Tereshkova nor Ride deserve much credit for being the first women in space. The Russians put a woman to space, so the Americans had to do the same.
But you probably still have time to put the first, I dunno, indigenous Australian into space. Or the first zebra. Or the first indigenous Australian AND a zebra at the same time.
Actually it was Valentina Tereshkova, a Russian astronaut cosmonaut.
But I do agree with Mike here that neither Tereshkova nor Ride deserve much credit for being the first women in space. The Russians put a woman to space, so the Americans had to do the same.
Damn, I knew that! Ok the first AMERICAN woman in space. Blast those Slavs, they beat us again. First satellite, first dog, first man first woman, first Venutian probe, I get your point George, but it was more difficult for a female here to move up in NASA than in The Soviet Union given the traditional role of Women in the 50’s and early 60’s. Russian women were even used as front line fighters in World War II. Taking nothing away from Tereshkova of course. IMO Ride still deserves the appellation.
I dont worship people who have been the first of their gender, ethnicity, or religion to do something, but i sure admire those who dare to go to orbit on a rocket, and live in zero gravity, only inches away from the deadly emptiness of space.
