Why I Belong on The Space Shuttle

I am a Garbage Man, and I belong on the next space shuttle. From the dawn of civilization I have swept up and kept up the refuse of society, the pop-tops and Styrofoam of generations, fighting a losing battle to keep our once-pristine planet livable. One future pickup day, let me leave my reeking sanitation truck in the garage; let me board a brighter metal monster and ride it to a place where there is no garbage -- yet. Give me just two things -- the vastness of space, and a headstart -- and I will keep space just that: without clutter, so that we can all move out of Earth's cradle to a new and litterless future.

I am a Musician, and I belong on the space shuttle. Since the first singing of Pan's pipe, I have stirred mankind's yearnings for that pure, unfettered spirit that is music. Let my celestial "music of the spheres" be not only of them, but among them. Let me ride the shuttle to the place where music began, there to compose a universal song that all can sing together, the next great Symphony of Man.

I am a Real Estate Agent, and I belong on the shuttle. The earth's land, which we pretend to buy, sell and 'own' but really only borrow, has been divided and subdivided. Let me ride into the realest estate of all, which can be subdivided but never diminished -- a place where there is truly room for all, no qualifying, no down payment; the ultimate suburb, where our future has been held in escrow since the dawn of time.

I am a Farmer, and I belong, to cultivate the red "earth" of Mars and the chromophores of Jupiter.

I am a Fisherman, and I belong to cast lines into the azure seas of Venus, and the ether oceans of Neptune.

I am a Miner, and I belong to mine the cadmium of Pluto, and methane rings of Saturn.

I am a Teacher, but also a Student, and I belong.

I am a Mother; a Child; a Laborer -- surely you will need me; an Accountant; a Clerk; a Longshoreman; a Vagabond -- surely I belong? I am a Poet who has been there in verse and longs to return; a Cop and, please, allow me to help build a world where there is no need of me. A Truck Driver; a Busboy; a Waitress; an Actor...