Neil Armstrong
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A true hero and sharp contrast to our Age of Kardashian
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Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, died today. His work at NASA, coming with near-death experiences, moved the cause of human exploration of space forward and we all should be grateful to him for that.
But not unlike Sally Ride who also recently died (see: “Sally Ride: Child in (not of) the ’60s”, July 24, 2012), the true character of the man can best be judged by how he conducted himself after his walk on the moon and contributions to the space program.
Neil Armstrong was comfortable in both his suit and his skin, with no need for self-aggrandizement so prevalent with generations born since 1950.
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Specifically, he was an intensely private man who granted few interviews and did not cash in on his fame as many do nowadays for something as malign as a sex video posted on the internet (think: Kim Kardashian). The idea of a reality show, had it existed back then, would’ve been more alien to him than the lunar landscape he walked on.
This was a man well-grounded in what was right in life and he stayed very much within such guardrails. In short, he was a sharp contrast to many who bought into the culture of self-importance and a me-first approach in life that has bloomed since the 1960s.
The good news is that despite what we may see on the internet or television, there are many people like Neil Armstrong who quietly and nobly contribute to our society. Perhaps that was what gave Mr. Armstrong a placid and unmoving faith in the principled life he led.
It’s fair to say that he is resting in peace.
-I.M. Windee
