Month: October 2019

To the moon, all of you conspiracy theorists

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One small step for man. One giant leap for nutjobs. Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of one of America’s greatest …

One small step for man. One giant leap for nutjobs.

Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of one of America’s greatest achievements — the first humans to land on the moon.

Or did we?

When Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin took those first lunar steps on July 21, 1969, Armstrong famously declared, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” That “small step” marked the culmination of centuries of scientific progress, and Americans stood proud.

Well, most Americans. Despite overwhelming evidence, including the collection of moon rocks and NASA images, the conspiracy nuts were soon out in force, claiming the moon landing was an elaborate hoax.

In 1976, writer Bill Kaysing published a conspiracy pamphlet titled “We Never Went to the Moon,” claiming the moonwalk footage was a fake, staged in a studio. In 2001, Fox News gave fresh blood to the lunar “truther” movement, airing a “Conspiracy Theory: Did We Land on the Moon?” special and interviewing a parade of Apollo 11 skeptics, including Kaysing and conspiracy filmmaker Bart Sibrel.

A year later, Sibrel assaulted Aldrin in a Beverly Hills hotel, screaming insults and poking him with a Bible. After one poke too many, Aldrin responded by socking Sibrel in the jaw, who then ran away. One small step for the good guys?

The number of conspiracy nuts mushroomed with the advent of social media, from lunar “truthers” to 9/11 “truthers” to anti-vaxxers to Holocaust deniers. Among their vilest smears is that the gunning down of children at Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012 never happened and was a hoax, further compounding the grief of the parents.

Today, any cretin with a computer living in his or her parents’ basement can post a new “theory” that might go viral and bring instant notoriety in growing circles of similarly stunted intellects. Look Mom, I’m famous!

One might wonder how the human race has gotten this far. At that point, it’s good to remember that if we were able to get to the moon, there’s not much we can’t do.

So let’s keep the faith, and celebrate the Apollo 11 astronauts’ achievement with pride!

Follow playwright Mike Vogel at @mikewrite7.

(source: https://www.amny.com/opinion/lunar-landing-apollo-anniversary-truthers-moon-1-33913468/ )

Will Smith to Help Raise $50 Million to Fight Homelessness

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Will Smith to Help Raise $50 Million to Fight Homelessness
Will Smith (Image: World’s Big Sleep Out)
When does reading help raise money? When an artist like Will Smith is involved!

As reported in The Washington Post, Will Smith and Dame Helen Mirren will each read a bedtime story during a one-night fundraising event to help fight global homelessness. On December 7th, Smith has agreed to partner with The World’s Big Sleep Out, a campaign that seeks to raise money to end homelessness and displacement around the world. In an effort to raise $50 million, The World’s Big Sleep Out encourages people to organize or join a “sleep out” for one night to support various charities throughout the world.

“For one night, in backyards, hometowns and iconic locations across the globe, we will sleep out in unison to create the world’s largest display of solidarity with and support of those experiencing homelessness and displacement,” The Big Sleep Out states on its website.

Smith will be reading in Times Square in New York City, while Mirren will be doing hers in Trafalgar Square in London. Each location is expected to feature live performances. The sleep out is also planned in other major cities, including Chicago, Amsterdam, Madrid, and Los Angeles.

Will Smith
Will Smith will participate in the World’s Big Sleep Out on December 7th (Image: BigSleepOut.com)

100% of the funds raised from the New York event will go toward registered charities helping homeless and displaced people. International partners for the campaign include UNICEF USA, Malala Fund, Social Bite, and The Institute of Global Homelessness.

“I am blown away by the response to The World’s Big Sleep Out so far and incredibly excited to have 50 cities all over the world taking part, Josh Littlejohn MBE, the founder of World’s Big Sleep Out, said in a statement. “It doesn’t matter if you are taking part in Times Square or in your back garden with your family, by sleeping out for one night on December 7th, we can simultaneously express our compassion for homeless people who have no other choice and raise life-saving funds to make a difference. We can also send a message to the world’s political leaders that urgent action is required to address the human suffering that we each witness on our streets every day.” (source: https://www.blackenterprise.com/will-smith-50-million-homelessness/ )