Keith’s note: I am currently writing a piece now about the so-called “Artemis Generation”, a phrase coined by NASA. Will they rise above things that now confront them or succumb to them? I am not sure. My Dad grew up during The Great Depression and then endured World War II – nearly being killed by a V-2 impact in London. From the sacrifice of the so-called “Greatest Generation” sprang the forces that propelled America to the Moon and later to send spacecraft into interstellar space on converted ICBMs – rockets directly derived from the missile that almost prevented me from existing. (Image: My Dad’s dog tag and a spent round fired at his funeral).
The Artemis Generation faces many things – school shootings, crushing debt, the pandemic, and a government that seems to have failed them. Its almost as if they have to deal with The Great Depression and post-World War II life all at once – at high speed. My generation grew up inspired by humanity’s first visits to the Moon as they unfolded before our young, impressionable eyes. World War II was as close to us then as 9/11 is now. Will the Artemis Generation be similarly inspired? If NASA wants to have a similar Apollo-like impact with the Artemis Generation they need to double down and work even harder than they are.
Meanwhile, on this Memorial Day I thought I’d repost an article I wrote about my father’s brush with death from a weapon that fell upon him from space. I still stand in awe of what his generation went through and what they did after that was over.
That Time Wernher von Braun’s Rocket Tried To Kill My Father
Based on all the complaining about social distancing, lockdowns,, wearing masks, and other covid restrictions the Artemis generation falls well short of being able to endure what the greatest generation of raids, rationing and more.
There are elements of the Artemis generation like that. Then there are those serving in the military around the world fighting to protect our freedom. A good example is the young sailor who prevented a massacre at the Corpus Christi NAS Thursday when a terrorist attacked it. Pity that story dropped out of the national news because the only one killed was the terrorist. She should be honored for being a true Hero. I expect that many in this generation will rise to the challenge when needed.
I suppose it is inevitable that the older generation criticizes the younger. Certainly, the behavior of some in this generation has been disappointing to say the least. You also have to look at the leaders they have. A president who refuses to be photographed in public wearing a mask. One who turns wearing a mask into a statement of political affiliation rather than a proven aid to reducing virus transmission so that we can begin ti open up the economy.A president who doesn’t use this Memorial Day to remind this generation of the sacrifices of those who came before and how little is being asked of them but chooses to play golf instead. It is almost as if FDR asked the Greatest Generation to help the Japanese liberate the west coast after Pearl Harbor.
The “Artemis generation” is a marketing construct to help sell a program that is very unlikely to attain its stated goals. This generation is entering a world where the U.S. debt to GDP ratio will approach that following WWII. A world where AI and robotics will transform the workplace. I doubt that calling on this generation to support a 1950’s vision of space exploration will gain widespread support. I hope this generation develops its own vision.
Don’t forget about the generation in between. We’re still here.
I’m quite wary, when pointing out that there are benefits to a longer view, that some may see an aversion to new ideas. That’s an important objection, but not a deal killer.
My observation is simple: in my own life, I’ve noticed as time goes by a marked propensity to take a step back. And as I do, and as I am able to draw on a lifetime of experiences, ‘connecting the dots’ becomes much more straightforward. Relationships I might have missed become obvious.
It’s dangerous. For one thing, younger citizens’ voices have equal weight simply because they are citizens. But the advantage of age, I think, is obvious when assessing what the voices have to say. The danger lies in developing a sense of confidence that discounts those views.
Still, experienced event examples are obvious: having become ‘of age’ in 1967, personal life observations include events seen as ‘historical to today’s 30 year old, born in 1990, and turning 18 in 2008, a year that, to me, is yesterday. That 30 year old can read about Nixon/China’; hyperinflation; gas lines/ gas wars; paper boys; Iran Contra…
Directly experiencing these events adds value to a point of view. And there is a reason that, unlike ours, so many societies value, even revere, elder citizens. A certain amount of wisdom just naturally accrues.
That is why the indigenous people like the Lakota only allowed their elders to sit on tribal councils. These elders also had the responsibility of guiding the youth in the right direction to ensure they had the experience and wisdom that would be expected of them when they became elders and led their nation. We forgot these important lessons during the “youth rebellion” of the 1960’s when wisdom and experience was discounted.
“Tradition means giving a vote to most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead.” Chesterton goes on to say: “Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about. All democrats object to men being disqualified by the accident of birth; tradition objects to their being disqualified by the accident of death. Democracy tells us not to neglect a good man’s opinion, even if he is our groom; tradition asks us not to neglect a good man’s opinion, even if he is our father.”
G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy
“Will the Artemis Generation be similarly inspired”
I was a young teenager during the Apollo era and I do not remember NASA or the US Government ever claim even once that they were launching a spacecraft to the moon for the purpose of inspiring a generation. Everybody understood at the time that we were going there to beat the Soviets. The talk about going to space to inspire the next generation did not start until after the space race was over and NASA needed to find a new justification for its budget. Apollo did inspire a lot of youngsters on their career choices, but that was NEVER a stated goal of the program.