"Riders on Earth Together"

I found this week's reading "Contested Global Visions" by Denis Cosgrove to be one of the most interesting of the quarter so far.  The "Earthrise" and "Whole Earth" photographs taken during two Apollo missions created a interesting cultural dichotomy between the idea of international cosmopolitanism and the competition and unrest brought about by events such as the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and the Space Race.  Seeing the Earth for the first time from afar was a momentous moment for humanity as a whole because all of a sudden we could see our continents in their true size and scale and without the national borders seen on maps.  The "Whole Earth" picture which featured Africa in the center reminded me of the Peters-Gall map from earlier in the quarter which showed the true size of Africa and how much it is minimized and distorted on most maps.  This picture was refreshing for that reason, and also because of the lack of visible borders which enhanced the feeling of global brotherhood which became so culturally prevalent.  While this idea of global unity can be seen as romantic and unrealistic, I think it is extremely important for all of us, perhaps especially leaders and politicians, to step back from our strongly nationalistic viewpoints and remember that despite our individual interests, we are all "riders on the earth together, brothers on that bright loveliness in the eternal cold -- brothers who know now they are truly brothers" (MacLeish).