Last updated on 2023-04-11
William Shatner really went to space, and it was not what he hoped for.
After exiting the Earth’s atmosphere he was awed by the warmth and life-sheltering brilliance of the Earth and the cold, black death of space. He was reminded of humanity’s insignificance and the fragility of life.
He describes the Overview Effect: “It was among the strongest feelings of grief I have ever encountered. The contrast between the vicious coldness of space and the warm nurturing of Earth below filled me with overwhelming sadness. Every day, we are confronted with the knowledge of further destruction of Earth at our hands: the extinction of animal species, of flora and fauna . . . things that took five billion years to evolve, and suddenly we will never see them again because of the interference of mankind. It filled me with dread. My trip to space was supposed to be a celebration; instead, it felt like a funeral.”
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While I have never been to space, I can understand this feeling. I am troubled by the destruction of our planet’s life support systems, and the ongoing mass die-off species. And yet, the solace can be found in knowing that Earth and life on Earth will likely outlive humanity’s ability to destroy. We will be self-limited in a macabre way. Hooray.
IDK, this morning I am mourning the loss of wilderness along the West Coast, the destruction of fires, encroaching suburbia, and the system altering carbon being ejected into the air.