Monday, September 18, 2006

The true space oddity


Anousheh Ansari, the first female space tourist, says it was her childhood dream to be able to travel into the space one day. In realizing this dream, she hopes to show women and girls around the world that they, too, can reach their dreams, especially given the fact that she was born and raised in a country where not many opportunities were provided to her (I paraphrased part of her interview with the CNN).


Hydra has a dream too, and he truly hopes that it will be realized someday. He wishes that the “media one day flies” like Ansari would not make quasi-philosophical/sociological statements in the future, implying justice and morality in the human world.

There are millions of people on this planet who are more talented, harder working, and prettier than Ansari, but will never have 25 million dollars to afford this luxury trip out of town.

My friends, do not underestimate the chance factor. You could have easily been her, floating around at the space station with millions of dollars in your bank account. Or… you could have been that poor child in Arusha or Johannesburg, infected with the HIV, and destined to await your death in pain. The chances are equal. Make a choice. No, sorry… you can’t.

9 comments:

Arsh said...

True. The whole time of reading and hearing Ansari's news, I was thinking the same as you. How about an African kid who's dreaming of having a full meal once?!?
I know, having 180 million dollar is a bank account can make most dreams come true!!! And not many ppl have that!

Oh BTW thanks for still visiting my blog sometimes.

Anonymous said...

u know what, i just found out that u're actually a he ot a she..Hydra sounded so she for me..anyways,please Hydra, don't tell me i can't dream..i can't hope for it to come true, but sure i can dream..

Hydra said...

Hi Arsh, well actually, I lost all my bookmarks, when I got a new computer a few months ago. But I found your site again via another link. Anyway, nice to have found you again.

----

Dear Foulla,
Damn, You found out about my identity, and now I have to kill you....
No, as a matter of fact, I'm a "he", but I'm now on the waiting list for THE operation!! :D kiddin'. Check this link, you will then probably think differntly about my name: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lernaean_Hydra

Concerning your comment, I believe that we have to be pragmatic. I'm quite negative when it comes to political or social issues, but can't myself live without hopes and dreams in my personal life. A person without hope is insane.

Anonymous said...

I agree, but once you told me people would have everything if they believe it. We can't save that poor child, but we can save a lot of children who die of hunger. We can't change our birth, but we can change the way of our life. If we do it, perhaps one day world can live in peace, it’s just a dream, I hope it comes true!

Alireza said...

the way I look at it is different! we human must taking care of ourselves witht the tools we are provided! in Iran, we can't have democracy or freedom despite the fact about 80% don't like this government? why? becasue we don't want to pay the price, first and the second becasue we are culturally not ready for the freedom!! I give out an example, if today there is road to be constructed in some area of the world which is underdeveloped, there may be still some people who oppose that becasue they think they are culturally invaded by that road!!
so, going back to Anousheh, If she would spend money on poor people, that is great, however, do you think that make a big difference!??? I mean many people become happy?! not really! becasue I think you have to educate and develop culturally! and by going to Moon she is doing that in my opinion! ask these questions why we left Iran? who is better? Mother Terresa or Bill Gates, I go with Bill gates, sorry for long comment!!:)

Alireza said...

by the way from your writing you must be a male, am I correct?!

Anonymous said...

سلام سام. من با تو موافقم. اما ما فقط یه بار زندگی می کنیم. می دونی؟ این موضوع خیلی چیزا رو تحت تاثیر قرار می ده.یه جایی از خودمون می پرسیم ،تو این یک بار،چقدر خودمون بودیم و چقدر به خواسته هامون یا ارزوهامون رسیدیم؟؟؟؟؟؟؟ فکر می کنم ادما حق دارن به ارزوهاشون فکر کنن و بهش برسن. حتی اگه گرون باشن. از طرفی ادما حق دارن ،مثل انسان زندگی کنن و از گرسنگی و فقر نمیرن،خیلی یا این ارزو رو دارن و مدام بیانش می کنن،ارزوی صلح،رفاه،از حوزه ی سیاست گرفته تا اجتماع تا تو خونمون،تا ....اما فکر می کنم،بهتره از خودمون بپرسیم ،برای اینکه فقر نباشه،شخص من ،یا شخص تو چیکار کردیم؟ اگه این ارزوی تو ه؟ یا ارزوی من؟ چقدربراش زحمت کشیدیم؟
من مصاحبه ی این خانم رو دربارش شنیدم،اشاره کرده بود که این پول حاصل سال ها تلاش منه،
بهتره از خودمون بپرسیم،ما چقدر برای ارزوهای انسان دوستانمون واقعا زحمت می کشیم.من خیلی از کار این خانوم خوشم اومد. و دقیقا به اون چیزی که تو نوشتی هم فکر کردم. و باز هم به این خانوم حق دادم. ماجرای اون 25000 تومن و بهت گفتم؟؟ اما باز هم فکر می کنم اینکه من خودم واقعا دارم چیکار می کنم،از همه چیز مهمتره.
نمی دونم چقدر برات واضح نوشتم. در یک فرصت کوتاه ،وبت رو خوندم و نوشتم و چه خوب که اپ می کنی.نرگس

Hydra said...

Thanks you all for your comments.

Dear Padideh,
Yes, and I still think so. I believe there are great disparities in this world, and that's my reality! I hope your dream comes true one day, although I seriously doubt!
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Dear Alireza,

I don't know to respond to your comment. I think it's hard to decide whether we are not culturally ready for freedom. It may be true, but I still oppose this idea. That is, not because I'm a universalist, but because I believe that believing in such idea, from a pure pragmatic point of view, could be very counter-productive and block changes that are taking place in the right direction.

I didn't intend to argue that Ansari had to give he rmoney to the poor, because I know that it wouldn't change anything. My point was she was wrong in propagating the belief that you can just do whatever you wish in this world, just by doing hard work etc.

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Dear Narges,

I don't have a problem with Ansari spending her money on a project like this. It's her money, She doest what she will. My problem with her has to do with her belief in a just world.

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I agree Thomas, we are all agents trying to survive in a self-made structure. Sometimes, the structure helps us, sometimes we stuggle to change it. Either way, it's something we have created ourselves.

Cheers all

Anonymous said...

hmmm..time for an uppdate;)