In the Shadow of the Moon (U)
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.David Sington's documentary details the experience of that small band of Apollo astronauts who made it to the moon. It is respectful, enthusiastic and occasionally rather touching as the men, now in their seventies, recall how it felt up there. Yet the really important question never gets asked: what was it all for?
Judging from the US government's attitude at the time it marked, first of all, a propaganda victory over the Soviets, and secondly, a gigantic PR campaign to offset the social and political bad news – Vietnam, assassinations, riots – of the late 1960s. Sorry to be a killjoy, but I'm with Gil Scott-Heron on this one: "I can't pay no doctor's bills – but whitey's on the Moon." If the miracle of Earth isn't enough for us, then surely its madness ought to be.
The genial and thoughtful Michael Collins, the Apollo 11 command module pilot who didn't step on the Moon, seems to recognise this when he describes the first landing: "wonderful, but ephemeral".
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments