"I Don't Want to Live on the Moon"
Danny Chung
Smoke Signals & Tea Leaves | Communications | Trusted Advisor | Media Relations | Crisis Management | Brand Positioning | TEDx Speaker | Veteran Advocate | Transformational Leadership
One of my all-time favorite songs is "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon," by Ernie of Sesame Street.
Here are a few verses for those who've never heard this fabulous song:
Well, I'd like to visit the moon
On a rocket ship high in the air,
Yes, I'd like to visit the moon
But I don't think I'd like to live there,
Though I'd like to look down at the Earth from above,
I would miss all the places and people I love,
So, although, I might like it for one afternoon,
I don't want to live on the moon.
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Sesame Street clearly had a positive impact on my childhood AND my career.
And, I still remember "Placido Flamingo" teaching the Spanish word for danger - "Peligro" -while watching Sesame Street with my daughter nearly 30 years ago, often times enjoying the show more than she did at that time. We both learned a lot about vowels and consonants, numbers, and words, both English and Spanish. But, mostly, we learned about community, and what it takes to build that community.
But, as someone who has been practicing the art and science of communication since the early 90's, I've come to appreciate this show on PBS, which has aired nearly the same number of years I've been breathing the oxygen on this planet, for not only the entertainment value and the lessons it shares, but moreover, how seamlessly and effectively it has communicated to its target audience over its 52 year history. Sesame Street communicates better than most PR agencies or Fortune 500 companies anywhere on the planet.
With the recent news introducing Ji-Young, the show's first Asian American (Korean to be exact) muppet, I was filled with pride that someone who represents my ethnic heritage is now on this show. If you've seen her intro-video, the screen flips from muppet Ji-Young to the actual actor Kathleen Kim, explaining the meaning of her name: Ji: smart or wise and Young: brave or strong, and how excited she is to share Korean foods such as jap-chae, kogi, gimbap... I only hope this introduction of a Korean muppet will continue to expand even further so that every child can feel represented.
“Sesame Workshop’s mission is to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Today, we uphold that mission by empowering children and families of all races, ethnicities, and cultures to value their unique identities,” said Kay Wilson Stallings, Sesame Workshop’s executive vice president of creative and production.
And, while it's unfortunate that the unceasing Asian Hate Crimes has been so prevalent, Sesame Street has responded with a kind and loving message that is both inclusive and empathetic to their audience: our most impressionable children who have relied on shows such as this to connect with friends like Ernie and Ji-Young, and to feel loved during this stressful period of isolation.
“It’s a powerful thing when kids see people like themselves represented on screen and in stories—it supports them as they figure out who they are and who they want to be,” said Alan Muraoka, longtime ‘Sesame Street’ cast member and co-director of ‘See Us Coming Together.’ “We can’t wait for families to get to know Ji-Young — in this special and in future seasons of ‘Sesame Street’ — and celebrate some of the Asian and Pacific Islander people in our neighborhood.”
It's fitting that Ernie sings of not wanting to live on the moon, and would much rather spend his days with friends and family here on Earth. I too, would prefer to spend my days here on Earth with my community... my friends... and my family.
Here's to another 52 years! Cheers!