Carl Sagan Memorial Book Page 4
Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8

Another light goes out in the darkness....
We don't lost him. He will be there...When we will be looking to the skies...In every single light blinking to us... In every book shelf showing us the strange wonder of our Cosmos...


Please add your thoughts to this memorial book

Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 13:10:05 -0800
From: Dale Lovell
Subject: Carl Sagan Memorial

Some of my earliest memories are of watching my father's collection of Dr. Sagan's "Cosmos" series. I believe that it is mainly thanks to him that I have my current interest in the sciences, and did not fall into the trap of ignorance. The soundtrack from "Cosmos" still moves me greatly, and makes me think back to some of the things Dr. Sagan taught me, a man I knew only in front of a television.

Although I do not hear much of the outside world here at my college, the news of Carl Sagan's death reached me the next day, and I was greatly saddened for some time. I hope that his work continues to have an impact on our small but amazing place in the universe.

Dale Lovell
Claremont, California

Date: Sun, 16 Feb 1997 23:31:28 -0500 (EST)
From: Junling Hu
Subject: Carl Sagan--My mentor

I first got to know Sagan's name when I was a college student in China. His book (Chinese version) "Broca's Brain" opened a new world to me. There, he looked at the Einstein's brain in the museum wondering what was in that brain. That kindled my curiosity for human mind and moved me to further study subjects related to that. I chosed artificial intelligence as my major, in the hope that building an artificial brain may help us to know more about human brain. I owe my career decision to Carl Sagan's influence.

I haven't viewed the COSMOS TV series until Sagan died. Students in our research lab put up the video show of each episode every Friday noon in memory of Sagan. In viewing the video, I was deeply moved by Sagan's belief in science and reason. In a society full of religious believers, here is a man who openly embraces science and truth. He shows us how astrology is wrong, and why scientific study is valued--the correct prediction of future can only be brought about by scientific study.

I will read more about Sagan's books. He had so much to give in his lifetime, and I really want to learn more about his thoughts.

One person's life is short in the long journey of human being. But the torch of a person will be carried on by the other ones. I will carry Sagan's torch and continue this journey.

-Junling

Date: Tue, 18 Feb 1997 14:32:15 +0200
From: Markus Tallqvist
Subject: On dead

I have not read one complete book by Dr. Carl Sagan. But my father has read a lot of them, some 10-15. By the one Im reading now, the last by mr Sagan is what I call Good. What though interests me more are primary things in living, which to me in 1995 seemed to be snakes, not worms, Isis, and moon. I have to face up with my Great grand father, honorary member of the American Oriental Society, founder of the Finnish oriental society, sitting behind the globe of the stars and planets holding Isis in his hand. Are the three parts of the egyptian holy trinity more valued than modern space flight? What realtion does man have to snakes? Am I set to read about the SUperhuman intelligence in the Urantia book? WHy does greatgrandfather write about the American founding fathers? Do dead people answer more quiestions? did Adolf Nordenskivlds father find Uranium in the greatest of siberian mining belts and mountain chains, Ural? Is anyone going to help me with these wuestions? Am I becoming a small time terrorist? Will some intelligent guy from NASA finalyy visit my parents home? Why is the Mareican OPtical society publishing a magazine with the Faistos disk on the cover? What will happen to our Turkish water pipe? Is Cokaine produced as a biproduct in produsing Coca Cola? In need of assistance, not jokin too much,
Markus Tallqvist.
markusta@sci.fi
www.sci.fi/~markusta

Date: Wed, 19 Feb 1997 21:17:42 -0800
From: 96zarkad@fissure.scar.utoronto.ca>
Subject: A sad loss for the world

Carl Sagan was my hero and inspiration. He meant more to me than most people I know personally, even though I have never met him. With his passing, he has become a legend. If there was any hope left in this world, it was Carl Sagan. I will miss him greatly...

Date: Fri, 21 Feb 1997 00:29:17 -0800
From: Christopher Todd
Subject: Thanks, BluePoint

Speech given February 20th, 1997 to the Olympic Club, Seattle, WA. The Olympic Club is a group of Distinguished and Honorable Persons.

Mr. Toastmaster, Mr. President, honored guests and fellow memebers:

In 1979 I had read everything Dr. Carl Sagan had written, and was pleased to find that he'd undertaken a science show for PBS. We didn't yet know that Carl Sagan's award winning 1980 TV series Cosmos would be by far the most popular show ever presented on public television. Cosmos attracted an audience of over half a billion people in 60 countries, and the book from the series spent 70 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list, including 15 weeks at number 1.

Sagan's career as a popularizer of science began in the early 1970s when he started publishing books aimed at a lay audience and he began to make those famous appearances on the Johnny Carson show. Carl Sagan's book The Dragons of Eden won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1978, and it's a great read. He continued his work as a popularizer of science and critical thinking right up until the end of his life.

He spoke often of the scientists he most admired. Democritus of Abdera, the ancient Greek philosopher who developed a mechanical model of the universe based on the idea that all things are comprised of tiny particles. Isaac Newton who formulated the Law of Universal Gravitation, and whose universe we kid ourselves into believing we inhabit. Charles Darwin who developed the theory of evolution and radically changed our view of ourselves and our place in heaven and earth. But for Sagan, perhaps the most important was Johannes Kepler who was an intense and intricate mathematician, but also an astrologer and mystic. Throughout his troubled life, Kepler brilliantly developed the laws of planetary motion, but was only able to do so by abandoning his most treasured beliefs in favor of unassailable reality. Sagan deeply admired Kepler's immense courage and unswerving respect for the facts. He felt Kepler was the first true scientist.

Despite Sagan's fame as a popular writer and TV personality, his main career was in science. He received his Ph.D. in 1960, doing exceptionally original research, which predicted the greenhouse effect on Venus. He taught astronomy at Harvard, where he formed a friendship with Stephen J. Gould, another fantastic teacher. And from 1971 until his death Sagan was Professor of Astronomy and Space Science at Cornel University. He also worked for NASA and was partially responsible for NASA Space Probes Pioneer 10 and 11, Voyager I and II, and he worked closely with the Mariner, Voyager and Viking planetary exploration teams.

Sagan was the leading figure in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Although, in an unusually spineless effort, congress canceled NASA's participation in SETI in 1993, the effort continues, largely through the auspices of the Planetary Society which Carl Sagan founded, and of which I am a charter member. Today, because of Carl Sagan's efforts, we are now energetically looking for signals from extraterrestrial civilizations, a notion that was broadly considered inane twenty years ago.

But for all of his enthusiasam for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, he continued to dolefully remind us that in spite of hundreds of thousands of UFO sightings, there has not yet been a single credible event. He implaccabily insisted that extra ordinary claims require extra ordinary evidence. There is none.

He cited the image of Earth taken by Voyager as it left the solar system. It was a view an extraterrestrial traveler would see. In the spectacular photo, the Earth is a pale, blue dot, barely discernible against the background of stars. Carl Sagan wrote "There is perhaps no better a demonstration of the folly of human conceits, than this distant image of our tiny world. This is to say nothing of the folly of wars, which from space would appear to be little more than the squabbles of mites on a plum."

But for all his science, for all his philosophy, his greatest gifts to us are as a teacher. Carl Sagan taught us that our great and soaring and passionate intelligence is our salvation. Our future is literally in our own hands, our toolmaking ability, in science. If he did believe in God, he certainly didn't waste our time remaking Him in our image. Carl Sagan felt the universe is neither hostile nor benign -- just indifferent to the concerns of those such as we. A view not much to our liking, perhaps, but at least we know where we stand.

Because of his unswerving curiosity and rigid insistence on skepticism and critical thinking, Carl Sagan did a lot of debunking. He rained on a lot of parades, but we are better for it, and we should be doing more debunking ourselves. Critical thinking and healthy skepticism are now common and acceptable. Sadly, pseudo-science is still with us, but in no small part because of the efforts of Carl Sagan, it is not as pervasive or broadly credible. He has taught many of us that fundamentalism is the enemy of progress for the human condition.

But the massive intellect and courage of Carl Sagan has fundamentally changed the way I view my life and the Cosmos. He has also changed my son's outlook, and, I like to think many of my students have benefited from what I've gotten from Carl Sagan. I further believe that my story can be retold millions of times. Our species, our prospects and our view of our place in the universe has changed for the better because of this great man. And today there is an accumulated record which is more closely related to the intense teaching, intelligence and insight of Carl Sagan than perhaps we recognize.

Since the first showing of Cosmos we have seen profound changes world wide, changes Carl Sagan always called for. Wicked leaders have been cast out, absurd empires have collapsed, abject enemies have shaken hands, and for the first time since their inception, numbers of the almost unspeakable weapons of mass destruction have actually been taken apart. There is still far to go, but Carl Sagan has given us hope for the long term survival of the human species, has convinced us that we are the wisest of the apes, and that one day we will inhabit the far reaches of the universe.

On his death bed, he learned of the possibility of proto-biogenesis on Mars (another fantastic tale worthy of a separate talk). Although the discovery of early microscopic life on Mars would acquit his entire life's search, and he was clearly elated, he remained skeptical, insisting on the most rigid standards of scrutiny and evidence.

In the final throes of his illness he spoke of his attitude toward death as a non-theist and skeptic:

The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides.

Once an exasperated student said to him, "You've debunked everything that makes us think we're worthwhile. What do we do now?" Without dropping a stitch, Sagan said, "go do something worthwhile. That is your answer."

Those millions of us who regard him as THE TEACHER owe the memory of Carl Sagan at least that.

Chris Todd
Seattle, WA

http://www.wet.net/nouncles/
http://www.transatlantech.com/tps/society-sagan-tribute-8.html   (Tribute to Carl Sagan)

Date: Mon, 24 Feb 1997 21:52:52 -0500
From: hakimmel@planetx.bloomu.edu
Subject: BluePoint

In Honors Humanities in High School (1992) the honors kids would skip lunch as the rest of the school knew it and go to the art room, where our teacher would play an episode of Cosmos each day. Afterward we would discuss the episode and talk about what we learned. At that time, he would sit back and let Carl do the teaching. We referred to ourselves as "Carl's Kids" and called him "Uncle Carl". It was awesome, I understand that after my graduation the practice was so overwhelmingly great that the teacher decided to continue it. The kids even made coffee mugs depicting Mr. Sagan and inscribed on the mugs are the words "Carl's Kids".

In my personal life, Carl became an source of inspiration and a primary influence for my belief system and artistic works. I wrote this poem when I heard the news of his death. Then, I finally read Contact, I'd always meant to, I bought it in 1988 and never got around to it, I am glad I read it. I wish I'd have done it sooner. Here's UNCLE CARL.


Uncle Carl

Sagan. What to say to the man
who explained the cosmos to me?
Where are you now?
Left so soon to go catch a drink
in the massive space cloud
W-3 made of pure ethanol.

Drink a toast to helping mankind
save himself from total destruction
thank you for warning us of nuclear winter
and talking some sense into those madmen
the guardians of THE BUTTON we've all come to fear.

Kick back, you, Newton, Galileo,
Copernicus, Pythagoras, Spock
and all those other scientists
from all those other worlds.
Step up to the W-3 all night bar
and drink a toast to eternity.

I hope you finally found the answer
to everything that is.
I especially hope you found more questions
Let your nature rejoin father nature
those stars you could only glimpse
through telescopes and interferometers
are now part of your being.

Rest well and examine those stars firsthand
in the spaceship of your soul.
Know that the world you leave behind
is better for that you have lived
and set your soul finally free to explore.
We'll all catch up to you someday.


I wish I would have had the oppourtunity to have spoken with him just once. Something of the Dream Interview for a Mass Comm Student.
May he rest well among the stars...
Butch Kimmel

Date: Tue, 25 Feb 1997 22:31:14 -0800
From: Le Red Freak - The Kevin <"@Le-Red.demon.co.uk Le_Red_Freak"@compuserv.com>
Subject: Paying respect to Carl Sagan

After reading his books and watching Cosmos, its strange that one mans knowledge and understanding of the universe could have such an effect on so many " humans ", me being one, I can only hope that future generations learn to appreciate his worth the same as so many of this generation have. In his " ship of the imagination " he has now found his destination.

Respectfully

Kevin Andrew Prowse.....

Date: Tue, 04 Mar 1997 04:05:05 -0600
From: Roger Sullivan
Subject: Carl Sagan

I have been very interested in space for as long as I can remember. Carl Sagan's Cosmos, which I read at age 11 or so, was one of the first substantial books on astronomy/cosmology that I read. The book left a lasting impression on me, and raised my enthusiasm for science above what it had already been. Carl Sagan had a very likeable personality, and a way of articulating complex thougts in such a way that even non-scientists couldn't avoid being interested. He will be sorely missed.
-- Roger Sullivan
cydonia@mindspring.com

Date: Fri, 7 Mar 1997 19:59:53 -0400
From: Sergio Gomez

La Ciencia y la Humanidad estan de luto.Ha merto uno de los grandes. Carl Sagan ha muerto.Todos lloramos su partida.Una partida que solo es fisica. Porque Carl Sagan vivira por siempre entre nosotros.Su obra no perecera nunca, porque ya forma parte del ngranaje siquico del Universo. Carl Sagan ha trascendido de la mera existencia terrenal a una dimension universal. Carl Sagan contribuyo como nadie a la difusion y popularizacion de la Ciencia en el mundo. El fue quien permitio que la ciencia llegara tanto a los especialistas como a los profanos por igual.

Nuestro homenaje y reconocimiento a este gran ser humano que fue Carl Sagan.

DESCANSA EN PAZ CARL SAGAN...TE QUEREMOS MUCHO...

Tu Eterno Admirador
Sergio Gomez
ser.go@codetel.net.do

Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 14:23:15 -0500 (est)
From: Dwright33@aol.com
Subject: Carl Sagan

Hello,
My Name Is Jeff Bishop From Kenner, La.

For Dr Sagan,

The Stars Beackon, Worlds Wait

I Am Like Many Whom Have Been Deeply Touched By This Wonderful Mans Elequant Descriptions Of Our Universe. Thank You Dr. Sagan For Helping To Clear The Air For So Many Of Us, Defining And Separating Science From Pseudoscience, Expanding The Light, Showing The Way. You Above All Others Have Fired The Imagination Of So Many Of Us To Have A Better Perspective Of Life And The World Around Us. Your Example Is Of The Very Highest (moral Standard) That Each Of Us Should Strive To Attain. You Have Enriched My Life And I Shall Miss You. In My Own Way I Will Try To Encourage Those Around Me To Assimilate The Knowledge That You Have So Generously Shared.

Goodbye

Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 18:51:48 -0500 (EST)
From: Kmas88@aol.com
Subject: Dr. Sagan forever in my thoughts

Dr. Carl Sagan awakened me to the vastness of this Universe and the role I can play in making our world a better place. When I get into my selfish moods I remind myself of Dr. Sagan and look to the heavens. There is so much out there and so much to learn. My petty problems are nothing compared to the greatness of life and creation itself.

I will miss you Dr. Sagan. Your Star will always shine bright in my memories. Thank You!

Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 21:35:08 -0500 (EST)
From: AGreene160@aol.com
Subject: Carl Sagan...

BRILLIANT......INSPIRING......WARM.......PERSONABLE.......CHARISMATIC........GIFTED..........ONE OF A KIND.

One of a very small group of people I have never met, yet still call FRIEND. He is sorely missed.

Alan Greene,
fellow scientist.

Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 22:03:26 -0500 (EST)
From: ECBortz@aol.com
Subject: Star Stuff!

He said that we are all made of "Star Stuff". That everything, the sun, the moon, the stars, everything that exists, is born, has a life, then dies. Mr. Sagan, or at least a part of him I believe, has gone back to the state from which he came.

I found out about Mr. Sagans' death only recently and was shocked to hear the news. The last time I had seen him was on ABC's Niteline with Ted Koppel. As it turns out, that interview in December of last year, was the last I would ever see of this man who gave me an appreciation of where we came from, what we are, and what we are destined to become.

Goodbye Mr. Sagan. I am a better person because of you.

ECBortz@aol.com

Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 17:13:56 -0500
From: "Bryan E. Adkins"
Subject: Carl Sagan

He made me wonder.....I will miss him!

Go to Page 1, Page 2, Page 3 , Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8

















1997