I was about 9 when the "Eagle" landed, watched the "big moment" on black-and-white TV at school. I'll never forget the feelings that arose as I watched Neil Armstrong plant that flag on the moon. I was only a child, but I was just plain flabbergasted at the arrogance and stupidity of it all.   I remember wondering how anyone in their right minds could possibly think they "owned" the moon? (At least, that's how I interpreted the action of planting a flag on the moon at the time). The Moon's been hanging around up there in 'her' mysterious celestial glory for billions of years, and now measly human beings think they own 'her' just because they managed to tramp around on 'her' for a few minutes (maybe???) I couldn't understand that kind of thinking at ALL, and I remember walking home from school that day with this "cloud" of disbelief and anger over me that I carried around for quite a while afterwards.

I always wondered if anyone else ever felt that way about it - and now I see a few more Catters were of the same mind. *whew* Maybe there's hope for this (rather dim-witted, it seems) species yet!

Later I realized that people claiming "ownership" of the moon makes about as much sense (not!) as people claiming "ownership" of the earth (or any parts of it thereof). And I'm just grateful that so far at least, usurping the moon has not carried the same god-awful devastating price!

daylia