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When NASA was preparing for the Apollo Project, it took the
astronauts to a Navajo reservation in Arizona for training. One
day, a Navajo elder and his son came across the space crew walking
among the rocks. The elder, who spoke only Navajo, asked a question.
His son translated for the NASA people: "What are these guys
in the big suits doing?"
One of the astronauts said that they were practicing for a trip
to the moon. When his son relayed this comment the Navajo elder
got all excited and asked if it would be possible to give to
the astronauts a message to deliver to the moon.
Recognizing a promotional opportunity when he saw one, a NASA
official accompanying the astronauts said, "Why certainly!" and
told an underling to get a tape recorder.
The Navajo elder's comments into the microphone were brief.
The NASA official asked the son if he would translate what his
father had said. The son listened to the recording and laughed
uproariously. But he refused to translate. So the NASA people
took the tape to a nearby Navajo village and played it for other
members of the tribe. They too laughed long and loudly but also
refused to translate the elder's message to the moon.
Finally, an official government translator was summoned. After
he finally stopped laughing the translator relayed the message:
"Watch out for these assholes. They have come to steal your
land."
astronauts to a Navajo reservation in Arizona for training. One
day, a Navajo elder and his son came across the space crew walking
among the rocks. The elder, who spoke only Navajo, asked a question.
His son translated for the NASA people: "What are these guys
in the big suits doing?"
One of the astronauts said that they were practicing for a trip
to the moon. When his son relayed this comment the Navajo elder
got all excited and asked if it would be possible to give to
the astronauts a message to deliver to the moon.
Recognizing a promotional opportunity when he saw one, a NASA
official accompanying the astronauts said, "Why certainly!" and
told an underling to get a tape recorder.
The Navajo elder's comments into the microphone were brief.
The NASA official asked the son if he would translate what his
father had said. The son listened to the recording and laughed
uproariously. But he refused to translate. So the NASA people
took the tape to a nearby Navajo village and played it for other
members of the tribe. They too laughed long and loudly but also
refused to translate the elder's message to the moon.
Finally, an official government translator was summoned. After
he finally stopped laughing the translator relayed the message:
"Watch out for these assholes. They have come to steal your
land."
