I don't think this was Yank crowing at all - they were quick to acknowledge that, but for all our work in Canberra, this would never have happened. They were full of praise for the Aussie contingent - in the bits we heard! - and reminders that the Canberra team's ongoing input will be vital to the program - we apparently getting the info first and then sending it on.
As for - what's the big deal?
Stand out in some deserted paddock - just you - the grass - and the sky. Look at the moon if visible - day or night.
Imagine you're a little kid - but you are a kid with a huge desire to build a space ship and fly yourself to the moon!
You have the wish - the motivation - but where the hell would you ever start. You would know deep down you had Buckley's hope! You'd laugh at yourself - or cry that you couldn't - and get on with your childhood. But the dream would always be there.
That humankind has, in actual fact, done this - and now achieved an incredible almost impossible to get right Mars landing - even more unbelievable and sensational - is something which should be world headlines - for months!
Have we lost all sense of adventure and excitement? What a huge and major achievement for Man born of Woman! We humans - so fragile and vulnerable - yet capable of such great feats!
Sadly, e.g: "who won the volleyball in London", for example, seems to be the most pressing focus on most people's minds. (Or what's for dinner tonight. Or which footy team to back next weekend!)
What ever happened to courage, delight, incredulity, or sheer and utter amazement and pride that man is capable of such low and vile deeds as war and resultant griefs, deaths, injuries, and hatreds - but at the same time can also lift him/herself to the highest levels of sheer and utter, stupendous, eternal greatness!
This will be spoken of and written about for aeons to come. And what do we all do - yawn - feel bored - and say - "on with the next".
