Michael Higgins Challenges Leftist Media's Colonial Interpretation of Moon Mission
In a provocative commentary, columnist Michael Higgins has taken aim at what he describes as the "colonial outrage industry" within leftist media circles, specifically targeting criticism that NASA's Artemis II lunar mission represents an act of colonial aggression against Indigenous beliefs.
The Walrus Article Sparks Controversy
The controversy stems from an article published in The Walrus magazine titled "With the Artemis II Mission, the Lunar Land Grab Begins," which Higgins characterizes as presenting the mission as a colonial expedition designed to enrich the wealthy while utilizing Nazi technology. The article further suggested that space exploration desecrates sites sacred to Earth's Indigenous populations, specifically referencing tipiskâwi-pîsim, the Cree name for the moon.
"Such is the state of the colonial outrage industry these days that it can be tough when reading some articles to decide whether or not they are a joke," Higgins writes, noting the article's publication date of April 1st added to the ambiguity.
Questioning the Logic of Sacred Space Claims
Higgins questions the logical consistency of arguments that would restrict human space exploration based on Indigenous sacred claims. "If the moon is sacred to the Indigenous population than why not all the planets?" he asks rhetorically. "After Mother Earth we can have Sister Venus, Brother Mars and Father Mercury. Space itself may well be sacred and so capitalist, colonial adventurers have no right there either."
The columnist expresses concern that appeasing what he calls "doom-laden, apocalyptic-focused, pessimistic-minded neo-Luddites" would effectively doom humanity to never rise from Earth's surface again. He employs historical analogy, suggesting such critics in the Dark Ages would have complained about too much light while lamenting the invention of the wheel.
Artemis II Mission Details and Significance
The Artemis II mission represents a significant milestone in space exploration, ending a fifty-year hiatus since the last crewed lunar mission. The mission will carry four astronauts around the moon, including Canadian Jeremy Hansen, who becomes the first Canadian to travel near the moon. The crew also includes Victor Glover, the first Black astronaut, and Christina Koch, the first woman to undertake such a journey.
"The mission is being celebrated for its spaceflight diversity," Higgins notes, while acknowledging that The Walrus represents a notable exception to this celebration. The mission could see humans traveling further than ever before in space, with astronauts aboard Artemis II viewing parts of the moon no human has ever seen while laying groundwork for returning humans to the lunar surface and eventually establishing permanent settlements.
Scientific Perspective on Crewed Missions
Higgins references planetary scientist Barbara Cohen of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, who told Nature magazine that "the amazing part of having crews is they have brains and eyes, and the capacity for thought and reaction," adding that they can "take the path of knowledge that is best for science."
In his characteristic satirical style, Higgins adds: "Obviously, she meant they have colonial brains and eyes, colonial thought processes and that the science was based on concepts not informed by Indigenous knowledge."
The columnist's broader argument centers on what he perceives as excessive political correctness that threatens to stifle human progress and exploration. While acknowledging Indigenous perspectives deserve consideration, Higgins maintains that space exploration represents humanity's natural drive to expand knowledge and presence beyond Earth, a pursuit he believes should not be constrained by accusations of colonialism when applied to celestial bodies.
