The Earth is a Satellite of the Moon

The Earth is a Satellite of the Moon


Apollo 2 cost more than Apollo 1
Apollo 1 cost plenty.


Apollo 3 cost more than Apollo 2
Apollo 2 cost more than Apollo 1
Apollo 1 cost plenty.


Apollo 4 cost more than Apollo 3
Apollo 3 cost more than Apollo 2
Apollo 2 cost more than Apollo 1
Apollo 1 cost plenty.


Apollo 8 cost a fortune, but no one minded
because the astronauts were Protestant
they read the Bible from the moon
astounding and delighting every Christian
and on their return Pope Paul VI gave them his blessing.


Apollo 9 cost more than all these put together
including Apollo 1 which cost plenty.


The great-grandparents of the people of Acahaulinca were less
   hungry then the grandparents.
The great-grandparents died of hunger.
The grandparents of the people of Acahualinca were less
   hungry than the parents.
The grandparents died of hunger.
The parents of the people of Acahualinca were less 
   hungry than the children of the people there.
The parents died of Hunger
The people of Acahualinca are less hungry than the children
   of the people there.
The children of the people of Acahualinca, because of hunger,
    are not born
they hunger to be born, only to die of hunger,
Blessed be the poor for they shall inherit the moon.


                               Leonel Rugama, Sandinista, 1949-70

Photos by JAMES NACHTWEY

I realize that this poem will make some people roll their eyes... thinking that linking these two things comes from this idealistic, liberal concept of social justice or something. But I think it is a good reminder of the disparity in this world. We place more value on exploration of the moon than we do on the lives of people who are dying of preventable diseases and hunger. The last line uses a bible verse, but of course switches out "for they will inherit the kingdom of God" to "moon". This is powerful for me, because I believe that if we are truly to model our lives after Christ, we should believe in the equitable distribution of goods... this is contrary to the capitalism model. And while I am forced to thank capitalism for my posh life here in the U.S. I must also come to terms that my good fortune is built upon the exploitation and death of people across the globe. 

Its just something to think about...