Asgardian Parliament officially started in June 0002 (June 2018). MPs were voted as representatives of all Asgardians. Since then Asgardia has grown and changed, always looking to the future that we are creating. In Parliament, we always remember that we are not here for ourselves, but that we represent everyone ...
Asgardian Parliament officially started in June 0002 (June 2018). MPs were voted as representatives of all Asgardians. Since then Asgardia has grown and changed, always looking to the future that we are creating. In Parliament, we always remember that we are not here for ourselves, but that we represent everyone who is part of Asgardia.
MPs are the ones entrusted with the task of passing the legislation that will shape the future of the first Space Nation. We want to get people to know their representatives better, to understand who they are as individuals. We feel that it’s important for everyone to know who they are, why they are in Asgardia and what their vision is. In order to do this, in the coming weeks, the Information and Communication Committee will be holding and publishing interviews with Asgardian Members of Parliament.
We start this series of interviews with MP Cheryl Gallagher, from the United States. Ms. Gallagher is a woman that smiles easily. I would describe my impression of her as very peaceful while showing a strong determination at the same time. She responds to our questions with the passion of somebody totally committed to a task. Knowledgeable, serene, Cheryl Gallagher transmits confidence.
Q. Why did you become Asgardian? What was your motivation?
A. I watched the first moon landing as a child in real time, as well as all the space missions with awe. We visited space centres and science museums regularly because my parents thought it was important and amazing. Their enthusiasm for all things space-related rubbed off on me. I like adventures and I enjoy travel, learning new things, always hungry for knowledge and understanding. About two years ago, I heard about Asgardia and I was fascinated to explore the potential that is this Space Initiative.
Founding a globally sourced off-world full-fledged nation is a very big deal and not exactly simple. In fact, it’s not simple at all. It’s only been a few years and using our combined experiences we are making steady progress. One of the compelling reasons for me to become involved in Asgardia was this unique opportunity and the possibility to help manifest the highest ideals for humanity as we take a new civilization off-world. It has the potential to help protect and evolve humanity itself for the future. What an amazing mission, to create a great legacy, what a terrific project for the global community to aspire.
Now I am an elected Member of your Asgardian Parliament, the first space parliament in history. Member of the Culture and Foreign Affairs Committees.
Q. We would like to know a little more about the person behind the official. What can you tell us about yourself?
A. I’m a surprising person and I do a lot of interesting things. I never hiked much or climbed mountains, but the first ranges tackled were the Himalayas in Nepal and Tibet. ( I did fine.) I studied Fortran, (back in the dark ages), typed many letters in MS-DOS “word processing” programs. I passed the MENSA exams. All of them. I owned the first iteration of MacIntosh computer (Wish I still had it!) 128KB hard drive, (that’s right - KB!), we stored everything on oddly-fragile floppy discs, and even various tapes. I remember the assertions that with the then current technology, achieving more than a 1 MB hard drive was considered impossible.
I didn’t own a “lunchbox” cell phone, but I had a “brick” one for a while. As technologies advanced, I did too, fascinated with all the many iterations and advances, watching companies breach technological barriers they swore they couldn’t move any farther, and continuing to learn and explore. I’m a solid terrestrial citizen, friendly, moderate and diplomatic, measured in response, responsible, patient, and with a sense of humor. I am definitely an early adopter of new technologies and I consider myself very open-minded, something particularly important when working with people of very diverse cultural backgrounds.
During and after a long and successful career in the health profession, I am now a visual artist (painting, mostly, modernist style). I am also a counsellor/ educator, an ambient electronic recording artist, and harpist on the Spotted Peccary Music label, where I play the electric harp and a million other acoustic, analogue and electronic things, using cutting edge sound technologies every day. I am an “aficionado” of World History and the Quantum world. (Physics, that is.)
Q. Mrs Gallagher, what is people´s reaction when you tell them that you are an MP in Asgardia?
A. “You’re...what? You are a member of a Space Nation? Really?”
“Wait...You’re in the Parliament of this... Asgardia?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me!”
I tell them “No, I’m not kidding. I am Asgardian and proud of it.”
I’ve gotten quite adept at managing other people's attitudes of disbelief and surprise (especially from people who thought they knew me) when I talk about Asgardia. Inevitably, I leave people flabbergasted and amazed, yet I spy the look of respect and understanding that remains in their eyes as I walk away, with just a little curiosity, a touch of envy in their look, marvelling. I speak to them of what Asgardia is today, and where it will be in the future, and my enthusiasm is infectious.
Q. What message would you like to share with everyone that reads this interview, Asgardians, and non-Asgardians?
I would like to let you know that there are many people like me in the background, working hard, working with earnestness and integrity, contributing their time, knowledge and life experience for the ultimate success of Asgardia. All aspects of nation building are in the process right now, from scientific research to designing future space structures to the economy, our future environments, legal, societal and technical infrastructure, education, all aspects of our new nation. All. At. Once. There are many brilliant and interesting people involved. It’s an amazing enterprise. We need and would like many more people just like you, to come and add your voice, your wisdom, your experiences to this global investment in humankind’s future.
Sometimes Parliamentarians seem hard to reach, but we are indeed here for you, meaning anyone interested in participating in the establishment of this globally based, as-multicultural-as-it-gets, independently-funded space nation, as well as representing all our established followers, residents, and friends. Reach out to us as we reach out to you. We are people who are both old enough to know from personal experience how fast and how far technology has come in a relatively short time, and young enough to be inspired to keep growing, learning, advancing knowledge and advocating for our growing culture as best we can, fascinated the whole time. Even when the going is not so easy...
Things are coming together over time like a skyscraper that isn’t finished being built. As parts and processes are assembled, not everyone always agrees with which parts to build first, or how fast to build, what we are building on and what we are building with. That said, it’s a truly revolutionary concept, we are a team and we are doing our best, exploring not only the possibility of our future in space but deeply investigating as a living laboratory, the potential of humankind to work together, to accept each individual with respect and understanding, receiving and appreciating the gifts of their varied contributions with equanimity and grace.
The process appears sometimes a bit chaotic to outsiders; it’s a busy place, lots of traffic, lots going on and much more to do. No nation gets built in a day, so “please have patience with our construction mess”, as they say... and please trust our intentions, for we are unified in the intentional goal of creating a new and beautiful future for humankind in space.
Remember the references I made earlier to all those old technologies, the precursors to the unimaginable (at the time) advances we have today? Over and over, the attitude remained with each new challenge, “That’s impossible!” “We will never achieve that, it just can’t be done!” “Humans will never survive in space!” Resistance always happens before revelation occurs. At different times in our history, the moon was said to be made of “green cheese” and the earth was considered the centre of the universe, people were persecuted for stating otherwise, these opposing views that are now given facts.
Humankind for all its faults and foibles proves these worn adages wrong all the time, every day. We do our best, we carry on, we continue to struggle forth into a new era of transformation and evolution.
So please come and visit Asgardia as often as you like, and if so inclined, you are welcome to join us in this mission, this unique opportunity for people of all nations, and all backgrounds to come together and work for this common goal of humanity’s progress into space.
I leave you with some famous lyrics of John Lennon’s:
“You may say I'm a dreamer,
But I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us,
and the world will live as one.”