The moon and other celestial bodies should be free for

In the vast, uncharted heavens above us, where the stars and the moon shimmer like jewels in the eternal night, there is a truth that must guide the hearts and minds of those who look beyond the Earth. Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, once proclaimed, "The moon and other celestial bodies should be free for exploration and use by all countries. No country should be permitted to advance a claim of sovereignty." These words echo through time, carrying with them a message of unity, freedom, and the responsibility that comes with humanity's reach into the infinite cosmos.

Consider, O seekers of wisdom, the ancient dream of the Greek philosophers, who gazed upward to the heavens and spoke of the unity of the stars and planets. They imagined a cosmos that was not bound by the earthly divisions of kingdoms and borders, but a realm of the spirit, where the heavens were open to all. This vision of the stars as a shared space, beyond the constraints of individual kingdoms, is one that resonates deeply with Johnson’s words. Just as the philosophers dreamed of a world where the heavens were free for all to contemplate, so too must we recognize the moon and the stars as places for humanity to explore together, not for the dominion of any one nation, but as the shared heritage of all peoples.

The essence of Johnson’s statement is a call for cooperation among nations, for the understanding that the exploration of space should not be confined by the narrow boundaries of national sovereignty. The moon, that pale and distant orb that has captivated human imagination for millennia, must not be subject to the whims of any one ruler or empire. Its surface is not a land to be conquered but a realm to be shared, where curiosity, discovery, and the advancement of knowledge should unite the peoples of the Earth in a common cause. Just as the oceans once were, the heavens too must be free for all, to be explored not for personal gain, but for the enrichment of all mankind.

Look, too, to the story of Magellan, that brave explorer who sailed into the unknown, seeking to connect the distant lands of the world. When Magellan set forth on his journey, he did not do so for the glory of any one nation alone. His voyage was one of discovery, one that opened the world to new possibilities. He understood that the vast oceans were not the property of any one land but were places for exchange, for the growth of knowledge and culture, for the broadening of horizons. His spirit of adventure, his drive to unite the Earth through discovery, mirrors Johnson’s vision for space—where the heavens are open to all, not claimed by any single nation.

This idea is not merely idealism but a vision rooted in the deep truths of humanity’s shared destiny. When we look to the stars, we must remember that we are not isolated nations or peoples, but part of a greater whole. The heavens, like the oceans of the Earth, should be places where collaboration and unity thrive, not the grounds for further division or conquest. Johnson’s call is a reminder that as we venture into the cosmos, we must leave behind the petty rivalries of Earth and instead work together toward a common future—one in which the stars belong not to the powerful, but to all who dare to reach for them.

The lesson, O children of the Earth, is one of shared responsibility and vision. The moon, though distant, calls to us, urging us to reach beyond the narrow confines of national borders and to see the vast cosmos not as a domain of division, but as a space for cooperation, discovery, and advancement. Just as the great explorers of the past looked to new lands with a spirit of shared purpose, so too must we look to the stars with the same heart of unity. For it is not the ownership of the moon or the stars that will define us, but our ability to work together to unlock the mysteries of the universe.

As you stand on the threshold of your own journeys, whether they be on Earth or beyond, remember that the greatest discoveries are those that are shared. The pursuit of knowledge, the exploration of the unknown, is not a quest for personal glory, but a collective endeavor that unites us as one people, as one humanity. Let the moon, and the stars that shine above, serve as a reminder of the unity we must strive for, both in the heavens and here on Earth. Let us reach for the stars, not with the spirit of conquest, but with the hope that, in the end, we will share in the discoveries that will shape the future of all humankind.