Until Yuri’s Night. It will also be the twenty-seventh anniversary of the first Shuttle launch.
Looking at the map, the only Florida party I see is up in Cocoa Beach. Between Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, you’d think that south Florida would be able to come up with something.
I’ve never understood why westerners, and especially Americans, would want to celebrate the anniversary of one of the Soviet Unions greatest victory’s over the west.
I think I’ll wait and toast Shepard’s Day on May 5th.
They’re not celebrating the anniversary of a Soviet “victory.” They’re celebrating the first human in space. It transcends nationalism, particularly almost half a century later.
I agree with Rand. It’s more than just a victory in a dead war. Besides it’s cool even if the Soviets were the ones to do it first.
It may have been a victory by the Soviet Union over the West, particularly the United States. Still, it was a victory not from blood shed, and it is one that should be respected. That kind of competition is a healthy thing, and recognition of great accomplishments is good even if you’re the one who came in second.
Personally, I don’t feel the USSR victory of launching the first man in space is as embarrassing today to the US than the USSR victory of launching the first woman in space 2 years later. It took two decades for the US to realize women have the capability to handle space travel, just like men. Since then, the Russians have figured out that paying civilians also have the capability to handle space travel. That’s another victory that have over the US…