SPUTNIK and PSYCHEDELIA!!!
September 25th 2007 15:23
I was there, on the front lawn on my family home in Adelaide, with the rest of my family. A quiet little suburb, in a distant place, far from the madding world. Then, this night, the world and all its adventurous hopes and fears, came barrelling across our peaceful skies.
My father, a respected exploration geologist, held me in his arms and pointed up to the cloudless starry night sky and said, "Look, see it...that is Sputnik, it's a man made satellite from Russia."
That moment is burned into my memory. I remember the strength of his arms, as I had sort more protection than usual, being aware something amazing, bizarre and out of everyone's control was afoot. I remember his deep, rich resonate voice and the brush of spiky bristle from his cheek, as he guided my sightline onto the incredible craft.
I remember seeing that little silvery white starry light...
Of course, the momentary awed silence was then interrupted by his children's bubbling line of questioning, and my father answered each as best he could, trying to keep it simple, understandable and unthreatening.
I remember none of that part in detail, what my brothers and sisters said, but I remember seeing that little star-like thing, whizzing by silently above us, knowing that this was a tremendous time for humanity, because my father said this was so.
For my parents, it must have been disquieting to say the least.
For the end of the Second World War had finished only twelve years before-hand, when Sputnik 3 was launched in 1958, and the Cold War was now in full flight and quickly gathering momentum.
For now, both the USSR and the USA had atomic weapons, and the "enemy", the USSR, was the first one in space. The rockets that boosted the satellites into orbit around the Earth, could also deliver an atomic weapon into the heart of your own city, from thousands of miles away, with no warning, no escape, just sudden silent bright light, then thunderous destruction.
Soon the Cuban missile crisis would dominate the news, and my father would gravely murmur to himself, his face showing extreme apprehension; for he knew death, up close and personal, he had killed Nazis in the Middle East, and Japanese in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, but these weapons would kill entire regions, with no chance of defence.
Maybe that's why the Sixties brought out the hippy within the youth;
"turn on tune in and drop out!"
...the most famous quote from the Lord of LSD, brilliant psychologist, researcher, madman, genius, author and gaol escapee, Timothy Leary!
Psychedelia, arguably initiated by the amazing Ken Kesey who popularised LSD and the bizarre colourful clothing, lifestyle and ‘events’ associated with the Sixties, Tom Woolfe’s “The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test”
,
...the rise of "them and us", meaning youth and adults, Flower Power, Beat Poets, Pop Art, , the lyrics of love, peace and protest in the music of folk, Woodstock, and then....
...the inevitable and relentless crushing and demonising of individualism and freedom of expression, and all done by the very same governments that helped defeat the totalitarian regimes of Germany, Japan and Italy….
....by our own governments, our people, by our own self-persecution, and all emotionally funded by an inexhaustible supply of social and political hypocrisy!
History is irony in the making!
....remember that when you ponder upon the events of 911...
cheers and congrats "Sputnik" on turning 50!!
fog
SPUTNIK
My father, a respected exploration geologist, held me in his arms and pointed up to the cloudless starry night sky and said, "Look, see it...that is Sputnik, it's a man made satellite from Russia."
That moment is burned into my memory. I remember the strength of his arms, as I had sort more protection than usual, being aware something amazing, bizarre and out of everyone's control was afoot. I remember his deep, rich resonate voice and the brush of spiky bristle from his cheek, as he guided my sightline onto the incredible craft.
I remember seeing that little silvery white starry light...
Of course, the momentary awed silence was then interrupted by his children's bubbling line of questioning, and my father answered each as best he could, trying to keep it simple, understandable and unthreatening.
I remember none of that part in detail, what my brothers and sisters said, but I remember seeing that little star-like thing, whizzing by silently above us, knowing that this was a tremendous time for humanity, because my father said this was so.
For my parents, it must have been disquieting to say the least.
For the end of the Second World War had finished only twelve years before-hand, when Sputnik 3 was launched in 1958, and the Cold War was now in full flight and quickly gathering momentum.
For now, both the USSR and the USA had atomic weapons, and the "enemy", the USSR, was the first one in space. The rockets that boosted the satellites into orbit around the Earth, could also deliver an atomic weapon into the heart of your own city, from thousands of miles away, with no warning, no escape, just sudden silent bright light, then thunderous destruction.
Soon the Cuban missile crisis would dominate the news, and my father would gravely murmur to himself, his face showing extreme apprehension; for he knew death, up close and personal, he had killed Nazis in the Middle East, and Japanese in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, but these weapons would kill entire regions, with no chance of defence.
Maybe that's why the Sixties brought out the hippy within the youth;
"turn on tune in and drop out!"
...the most famous quote from the Lord of LSD, brilliant psychologist, researcher, madman, genius, author and gaol escapee, Timothy Leary!
Psychedelia, arguably initiated by the amazing Ken Kesey who popularised LSD and the bizarre colourful clothing, lifestyle and ‘events’ associated with the Sixties, Tom Woolfe’s “The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test”
,
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
...the rise of "them and us", meaning youth and adults, Flower Power, Beat Poets, Pop Art, , the lyrics of love, peace and protest in the music of folk, Woodstock, and then....
...the inevitable and relentless crushing and demonising of individualism and freedom of expression, and all done by the very same governments that helped defeat the totalitarian regimes of Germany, Japan and Italy….
....by our own governments, our people, by our own self-persecution, and all emotionally funded by an inexhaustible supply of social and political hypocrisy!
Timothy Leary gives the finger!
History is irony in the making!
....remember that when you ponder upon the events of 911...
cheers and congrats "Sputnik" on turning 50!!
fog
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Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
I remember my sister coming home from school in the 4th grade (we were living in the US then) and she was telling our parents all about the 'commies' and how they were the enemy and all this propaganda that she'd been fed by her teachers.
My parents were appalled (this is 1986 by the way) and tried to explain to her a more balanced view of the world.
I worry that we're feeding that exact same kind of propaganda (replacing Russians with Muslims) now to our kids.
That must have been amazing to see a man-made object in space for the first time. I can only imagine what it must have been like for folks watching a man walk on the moon for the 1st time.
Awe inspiring what human can do if they put their minds to it.
Kylie
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
you hit the nail on the head!!!
The Muslim is today's top of the hate pops, another manufactured 'devil' to keep the populace frightened and the arms factories over producing.
Lyndon Baines Johnson (dec'd President of USA) was once asked, "When do think a country is at its strongest?" Johnson had no problem answering it. "When the country is at war! You have full employment, over production and the fear of the people!".
Never truer words were spoken by a politician, and although I did not admire this man, in any shape or form, I must begrudge him this; he told it as it is, honest and straight from the hip, unlike the sychophantic slaves of trans-nationals of today, that we call our elected representatives.
cheers
fog
P.S. Here is another amazing quote form Pres. Johnson, and our current leaders should take serious note:
"You do not examine legislation in the light of the benefits it will convey if properly administered, but in the light of the wrongs it would do and the harms it would cause if improperly administered."
Lyndon B. Johnson
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Respect, tolerance and understanding.
If only we could embrace our individualities and treat each other with something other than suspicion and mistrust.
Pius I know - but wouldn't it be nice.
Sorry guys - just had to get that off my chest.
Cheers and stay well.
MNG
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
And you are not sounding pious at all! I totally agree with your sentiments, and so would a great deal of others, alas, this thinking and justice willing part of society has almost been silenced by the various lobby groups and individuals who see only revenge, hatred and marginalisation as the 'weapons of peace', when in fact, as we well know, they merely foster and perpetuate unrest in the world and at home.
I wonder sometimes if John Lennon was assassinated by remote...
cheers
fog