Against Aviation philosophy...

[Tophe]

I have written a new site about some philosophical refusal of aviation/space heroes, but this is in French all. As far as I am concerned (but I am a What-ifer and a crazy one moreover...), these are the most brain-storming things that have ever been written about aviation... Do you think this is interesting enough to need translation in English? I could try next week or in April if several ones are interested (correcting the raw misunderstanding from automatic translation with Babel Fish). Tell me please.
For French-speaking readers, this is http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/avionKO.htm

[Tophe]

With the help of Google and myself and an Australian friend, I have translated it all in English:
http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/aviationKO.htm
Aviation critical disillusionment...

[Silver Fox]

Fascinating... but your disillusionment seems to have it's basis in a simple misconception or two.

1. Heroes are judged by the undesired, or unsought, public acclaim of their day... not ours. Many a historical figure acted heroically by the standards of his society... and repugnantly by ours. Fathers of American Liberty who believed 'All Men Are Created Equal', except for the slaves they owned of course... by way of example. Try to better understand the society which bred these heroes and you will have a greater understanding of what they accomplished, and why it was judged heroic. I think you will find that you gain a deeper appreciation of both the heroes and the modern age by looking at things this way.

2. The civilian space program which took man to the moon did develop technology which aided ballistic missile development. I would contend however, that it is not the technology which is immoral... but the uses it is put to. I would point out that the basic technology of the Internet was developed by the Defence Advanced Research Projects Authority... in order to facilitate nuclear weapons research amongst leading universities. I'm not a huge fan of nuclear weapons, but I do like my Internet b:)

[Tophe]

Thanks for your analysis, while your objections show little misunderstanding (probably my text was not clear yet, sorry).
1. I personnally don't care of the people long ago, I judge the slavers as evil even if they were sure to embody goodness* (I'm not much interested by their blindness and by the brain-washing they received). My disillusionment principle is that I refuse now the present judgement "these marvelous people did these wonderful things for us to be happy".
2. I do not blame technology, I blame propaganda lies. Yes I love Internet, and if some public speech told me Mr X is the heroic inventor that made it possible, I would cheer, then... I would feel bad if I discover he did that to mass-murder Africans or else without efficient revenge back. This is disillusionment, not hate towards Internet, I agree. For Internet, only the present result counts, but aviation was different, each time having different beauties.

* : I don't feel very good myself, as maybe our (Buddhist?) grand grand children will judge us eating animals as monsters. I would feel better as vegetarian, but I still don't change, sorry.