Bob Vila's Hammer's Journal: Return to the Moon

I just wanted to comment on the speech that President Bush gave today about the future of our space program, NASA. I watched the speech a few different times (DVR) and I have to say that I was genuinely touched at his sincerity and interest in the forthcoming plans he has prepared for the expansion and focus of our space agency here in the US. Now, it probably was not all of his idea, but I believe in his speech for the following reasons:

1. President Bush is a caring individual. He is not as many see him in the face of political emotion, a danger to the future of our civilization. He is someone who cried on and after 9/11, someone who wept when the Columbia Shuttle disintegrated during reentry. He is a man like the rest of the good men in this country are, something you can't put your finger on.

2. I trust him. He is a man of his word. He has proposed solutions to problems facing our nation and seen them through. He has given tax cuts to improve our economy, he has deliberated with care on major issues like abortion, marriage, and ethical concerns regarding genetic engineering practices. Most of his decisions strike an accord with me simply because I am a conservative for the most part. But it goes beyond that. If he says he'll do something, you can be sure that it will get done. I appreciate and completely respect results.

3. He knows what is truly good for this country. I think I have an idea from time to time, but it is no comparison to the white house and its staff, our government and military strength and global readiness are testaments to that. As I trust him, I also trust in his information. I believe he is a fair person willing to do good in the face of bad. I tend to think of him as having a forgiving heart and an easy smile. Something I notice about myself.

So the main outline of this post is to share in the excitement of having a president during our time/age acknowledge the future of humanity in such a way as to initiate the beginning of that future right now. Maybe it could have been anyone who was in office at this time, but I will never forget his speech today. One during which he quoted the words of the last Astronaut to have left the moon's surface over 25 years ago while almost shedding a tear for the pride in his heart for those old, almost forgotten achievements. And with a determination borne of trying to reestablish the connection to that pride for many Americans is a major part of the plan. A plan that I hope and pray will work, one that I believe in. Seeing the faces of those old Astronauts who were there on the moon, makes me wish I was somehow a part of it. Seeing the current NASA Astronaut in space introducing the President, makes me wish I was one of them. Here's to the return to the moon.