THE WAY THINGS ARE

The courageous crew of the recent Artemis II mission felt what every astronaut before them has felt, awe at the fragile beauty of Earth, the desire to protect that spectacular jewel in life-barren space, no borders evident, no signs of the massacres on its surface. That illusion obscures our destructive, political diversity and we often forget the earth owns us not the other way around.

The contrast between the achievements of Artemis II and the presidency of Donald Trump, who does not act like a dignified occupant of the most powerful office in the world, is stark. A week for the mission crew would have been too short, they loved the work, but it’s a long time in politics.

Meanwhile, the EU sighed in relief over Hungary’s democratic defeat of Victor Orbán, an obstacle regarding Ukraine. Trump, no friend of Ukraine, backed Orbán to stay in power. Attempted EU political preference-dealing from a man who said Joe Biden’s election was rigged?

Turkey’s President Erdogan called Benjamin Netanyahu names over his regional actions; Bibi threw The Kurds back at him. Ironic, how both countries occupying the territory of other peoples think their own sins are self-righteous while the same sins of their enemies are crimes.

We expect foul, unpredictable actions from oppressive regimes, but recent wars have shown acceptance by Western leaders of the criminal actions of allies, let alone literal murder, correctly but hypocritically sanctioning Russia for war crimes in Ukraine while Israel gets mere reprimands.

Most recently, the lame, ‘Show more restraint’ over the deaths and displacement of Lebanese innocents, excused by Israel’s drive to destroy Hezbollah. Biden and Trump weaponised Israel’s ‘defensive’ slaughter of innocent Palestinians, and Erdogan said what everyone already thinks, Israel’s wars are/were firstly serving Netanyahu.

The UK foreign secretary, commenting on the Strait of Hormuz, said that ‘concerted international pressure’ should be applied to keep it open. Where was the concerted international pressure by the West on Israel to stop killing thousands in Gaza, Iran and Lebanon? Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran created the opportunities Netanyahu eagerly sought.

Does the West, with its apparent primary focus on Israeli security, consider Palestinians, Lebanese and Iranian citizens, displaced and bombed out of homes, hospitals and schools, expendable? The stench of their deaths does not reach into space.

The UK banned Kanye West from performing there, creative brilliance does not excuse anyone spouting misogyny and racism. A Hitler fan, West conveniently blamed his behaviour on his Bipolar mental illness. Hilter’s murderous behaviour is now regarded as deranged, yet some still admire him, a poster boy for their prejudices.

This banning was, most likely, an offering to Jewish communities of the UK for the racism and violence those innocents have endured through no fault of their own. Again, comparisons have to be drawn between the usual reaction of the West to anti-Semitic words and actions, and its lethargic responses to Israel’s war crimes.

Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek had an international crew, cooperatively working together, which the International Space Station realised. ISS on Netflix, a film about Russians and Americans on the space station, illustrated the claustrophobic environment these amazing people work in, sharing tasks. Communication problems arise, war has broken out on that calm looking marble, and secret orders crackle through from ground control on both sides. The outcome of conflict and the choice to obey or not, always depends on the character of the people given difficult orders, some pause to consider consequences.

Cypriot and Irish brains have proudly joined NASA’s brilliant scientific minds. A commentator on the BBC speaking of Artemis II, when asked who will benefit most from a future moon-base, answered people like tech billionaires and Elon Musk – already working on the prospects of greater, personal space wealth rather than human advancement.

Greed reaches even into space.