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10 orbits on…

We’ve been 10 times around the sun without him.

Have you ever noticed that there are just some people who seemed to be especially “changed” by Carl Sagan? Those who go so “ga-ga” over him, that even ten years after his death, they still blog, gush, and talk nearly incessantly about him? And these are often the people least likely to otherwise worship, idolize, or even get excited about a professional athlete, celebrity, rock star, authority or politician.

I’m one of those people. My life-trajectory was tugged and defined by the gravity of Carl Sagan. He gave all of us reasons to cherish the pale blue dot and “all that ever was or is or ever will be.” He personified the Cosmos – literally.

He was a gifted scientist, communicator, dad, and human being. He moved millions and millions to see.

But what’s more incredible than how many he did move, is how many have somehow missed the message. Because make no mistake – and he would be the first to admit it – this is about the message not the man. As endearing as he was, this is not a cult of personality, but of the Cosmos.

Carl Sagan articulated poetic and accessible accounts of reality that were so beautiful and simple that once you understood what he was saying, you would never see the world the same way again. Everything was meaningful and awesome. So ask yourself if you understand what he was saying. Do you have any idea what you are missing? Please, take some time to get to know what Carl Sagan was telling us. So many smart, thoughtful, and loving people can’t be wrong. I invite you to join the club.

I often wonder how much better our world be if he were still here to offer his insights and guidance. But he is gone. And the rest of us who did hear him can only forge ahead, doing what we can to open people’s eyes.

Rich Blundell
Omniscopic

Popularity: 12% [?]

Filed Under: Sagan Family

  • Anonymous

    Wow what a nice piece.

    Hero worship isn’t always so bad, IF you choose your heroes carefullly.

  • Patricia LaRaia

    Every December 20th I think of him, with saddness and deep respect. I am too one of those people whose life was forever changed by his passion for science. I will miss him always, but as the comment he included in his book Cosmos about two amateur astronomers who wrote ” we loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night…” he died after having lived one the most amazing life, having touched the lives of millions of people, giving them the joys and passion of loving science. For all of us he touched, he died way too soon. Every time I see the night sky, I imagine him seeing now the furthest corners of the universe with the same awe he had here on earth…

  • http://twitter.com/iShiham Shiham

    This is very true Rich! I am one of those so to speak.
    i do not know if i am idolizing Sagan but i admit that he was an incredible human being. there are great many scientists, but what makes Sagan different is how human he is.
    He inspires me, his words, insight are so meaningful and touches with the most amazing feeling of togetherness. He’s opened many eyes and im very greatful that we had such a wonderful individual as a human being.
    hope one day we would be able to see what he try to show us and head for stars, for our very own survival.

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