Eid Seen from Planet Mars

This event is not breaking news, yet it is of a planetary size. Because while some people are tearing at each other’s throats on planet Earth, others, a very few smart people among mankind, are on planet Mars. Well, they are almost there; they “landed” a rover on Aug. 6. That day, U.S. President Barack Obama called NASA scientists to congratulate them. As with all human beings, Obama wanted to point out that “I’ve got a lot of other things on my plate,” but that the search for life on Mars “will go to the top of the list.” He even asked them teasingly “if in fact, you do make contact with Martians, let me know right away.”

This umpteenth mission on the “red” planet — so called because of the important presence of iron oxide — confirms that scientists are on the right track searching for evidence of life on the closest planet to Earth. The first mission dates back to 1964 when the space probe “Mariner 4” flew over Mars and permitted the first explorations. Since then, Russia (formerly the U.S.S.R.), the United States, the European Union, Japan and recently China altogether sent around 40 missions. They have been doing research on Mars for the last 50 years. A half-century of research does show their interest. Indeed, its conquest is under progress. The American rover “Curiosity” that landed successfully brought along a science lab that will be installed on a 5,500-meter high mountain. That way, at a distance, American scientists will be able to conduct more in-depth studies and analysis. The goal of this mission is to determine whether Mars could support human life. Surely, the scientists already have the answer, otherwise they wouldn’t have continued research for the last 50 years. They might not have the whole answer, but they must have strong signs. In any case, it is obvious that this type of information is classified and therefore filtered.

Anyhow, the space conquest which has been going on for a long time is making real progress in the indifference of public opinion. This indifference is by no means fortuitous; it stems from the media that doesn’t grant it full coverage. They’d rather keep the Earthmen entertained with “civilians” fighting the “Army” in Egypt. With Israel strutting (asking to be held back) while threatening Iran. With some Arabs and some Muslims wanting to abandon the Arabic and Islamic Syria they’ve grown tired of. With an African continent suffering more and more from disease and starvation in addition to a recent war “relocated” from Afghanistan to Sahel. With Mali that looks like it’s the center of gravity. With all the European countries desperately trying to loosen up the financial stronghold and to preserve their leadership. The media has within its reach so many “predicaments” to draw the attention of the public opinion. Therefore, Mars is a hot topic only among the important leaders of this world.

Meanwhile, here, in Algeria, what are we dealing with? We are looking for the moon! By looking at it! Some scientists not endorsed by religious people swear that the Eid ul-Fitr will be next Sunday. Not Saturday, nor Monday. They are absolutely sure. They are “fighting” for that! They are even more raucous than their NASA counterparts who are on Mars. That explains why “Curiosity” had no chance to become breaking news in the Algerian media. Will we someday have the chance to put an end to human stupidity?