At the end of this month, Crew 7 (Crew-7) will travel to the International Space Station aboard Space X Dragon. The expedition included American, European and Japanese astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut.
Wait what? A Russian cosmonaut flies on an American ship?! That is, not even a “neutral athlete”, but a “representative of Roscosmos”? Where are all the Western “cancellers” looking?
To me, that’s a great example. Even a few. First, international cooperation is not only possible, it actually takes place. And no idiots are protesting at the Falcon launch site. Second, the best cooperation is not one that is based on some kind of mutual love in the gums, but one that is based on mutual interests.
I am impressed to see how Americans everywhere and in everything use this principle. How they bought Russian oil, uranium, aluminum, titanium, fertilizers – they buy it. As they flew in space with ours, they fly. And even the fact that many astronauts are ex-servicemen doesn’t bother them at all. And if you mind, it’s very quiet. Tabloid correspondents don’t run after astronauts with questions: “How did you serve in the Russian Aerospace Forces?” And you are not a member of the CSKA club, by any chance?
Astronauts are what is plain in plain sight. A good computer scientist, sailor or cosmonaut is the same pride of Russia as an athlete.
Why are Europeans so dumb in this context? What gives Finns the closure of borders to tourists? They canceled the train from St. Petersburg to Helsinki – and are proud. Now, buses carry across the border those Finns cannot miss due to their obligations in the Schengen Agreement. By the way, the buses all come from Estonia and Latvia. That is, in general, it is impossible, but if you really want it, then you can? Who benefited? Estonian transporters, maybe.
I recently flew from Vnukovo to Minsk – a complete feeling that planes leave for Turkey as often as trains run in the Moscow metro. What, everyone is in a hurry to see the monuments of Istanbul? No, it is tens of thousands of our fellow citizens who arrive in Europe in this way. And from there, tens of thousands of Russians fly to relatives who have gone to live and work in the West. Result? Turkish Airlines is one of the fastest growing airlines in Europe. And another Turkish carrier, Pegasus, declared itself the most profitable airline in the world this year. Congratulations.
I never doubted that only the smartest, the elite, enter the space industry. Now I am convinced of it.
American and European astronauts can shake hands and kiss ours, but (some) European athletes will lose their arms? No, of course, it’s bullshit. I have not stopped and do not stop communicating with Western athletes, coaches, ski technicians. They will certainly have no problem shaking my hand at the finish line. The issues relate exclusively to individual sports bosses, who are much more concerned with harassment in the media and social networks than with issues of justice and development. Well, a few dozen protesters in their alpine villa are also worried.
Have you noticed that all the major international federations and the IOC itself are based in Western Europe? Not necessarily in Switzerland, like our FIS, the biathletes in Austria and the athletes in Monaco. It is important that in Western Europe, and therefore the mentality of international sport is appropriate.
The situation in international sport is reminiscent of what happens quite regularly in Europe in another area: radical eco-extremists stick their priests on the road. German autobahns are very fond of tracks. Five radicals are sitting on the road – because of them thousands are stuck in a traffic jam or cannot fly away. Once I got into such a traffic jam – it was quite interesting to watch other “stuck”. My German is absolutely non-existent, but even without translation it was clear that it was the people who were shouting at these “fighters for high ideals”.
A comparison immediately came to mind: it’s the same thing in international sport. Skiing, at least. The vast majority want to live normally, as they are used to, to interact, to profit, in the end. And only a bunch of idiots got in their way and won’t let go. But sooner or later this blockade will be broken. Or, alternatively, all active and successful people will simply leave for the places where they can live and work without violating someone’s “high ideals”, which are really just hypocrisy, stupidity and a dead end. .
You need to watch the sky more often – and learn from astronauts with astronauts.
Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
