**Remembering Carl Sagan and Jimmy Carter’s Cosmic Voices**
As 2024 comes to an end, we remember two voices that still echo from the edge of our solar system. One voice is carried by Voyager 1, while the other gave humanity its most humbling self-portrait: the pale blue dot.
**A Humbled Perspective**
Carl Sagan’s monologue in his book “Pale Blue Dot” reminds us of our place in the universe. He says, “Look again at that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us.” He emphasizes that our existence is a tiny moment in the vast cosmic arena. We are just one small stage among countless others.
**A Message for Our Time**
Sagan’s words challenge our posturings and imagined self-importance. He asks us to consider the endless cruelties visited by humans on each other, and how frequent their misunderstandings and hatreds are. He emphasizes that there is no hint of help coming from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.
**A Call for Kindness**
Sagan urges us to deal more kindly with one another and preserve and cherish our home, the pale blue dot. His words remind us of our responsibility to care for each other and the planet we call home.
**Jimmy Carter’s Cosmic Vision**
In contrast, Jimmy Carter’s legacy is marked by his commitment to renewable energy and global cooperation. He had solar panels installed in the White House, a far cry from the climate denial that plagues our world today.
**A Final Message**
As we look up at the stars, let us remember Sagan’s words: “The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate.” We are all in this together, and it is time for us to take responsibility for our home.
**Related:** The Pale Blue Dot: Carter, Sagan, and Ukraine‘s Cosmic Vision at the End of 2024