Posted by Azrel1013 at 24-116-119-142.cpe.cableone.net on March 09, 2004 at 17:42:00:
In Reply to: Re: Poll. No frills. posted by on March 09, 2004 at 17:23:49:
: 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."