Buzz Aldrin Creates Bad Buzz, Verbally Missteps Before DWTS Debut

When Jackie Gleason was annoyed with something his wife said, he'd reply, "To the moon, Alice," a zippy comeback of which I was reminded after reading former astronaut Buzz Aldrin's surprisingly self-pitying response when asked by a reporter why he was joining the 2010 cast of "Dancing With the Stars" (DWTS).

"Living on Air Force retirement and Social Security, I'm forced to go out and sing for my supper quite a bit," Aldrin allegedly told a reporter for Zap2it.com. "Most of the astronauts are in the business of marketing memorabilia and autographs. It's not like a football player being paid millions and millions, and it's a shame that somebody who has gone to the moon has to do that."

To the Moon, Buzz

With most Americans no longer receiving fixed income pensions, no less Air Force pensions that can amount to 50% of one's final salary adjusted for inflation, Aldrin's retirement package doesn't seem too shabby. According to the Air Force Times, it would take $1,000,230 in retirement savings for a civilian with a self-funded IRA or 401(k) to produce a pension of even $30,069 per year, a figure that doesn't take into account medical and dental benefits for life.

Unlike an old pensioner forced to live his last days in a rickety boarding house, Buzz Aldrin seems to have created a nice life for himself in retirement. As the result of joining DWTS, Aldrin told Zap2it.com he may have to miss or postpone a scuba diving expedition and a reunion with his old Air Force buds. Sure beats sitting at home on the recliner watching The Price is Right, a TV game show that Aldrich appeared on last year to promote his latest book.

Do astronauts deserve a better lifestyle than teachers?

Although I don't begrudge Buzz Aldrin a dime of his Air Force pension, his sense of entitlement has transformed my image of him from that of a space hero to just another guy who thinks the world owes him something. School teachers, fire fighters, nurses and others in the helping fields are arguably just as heroic as astronauts, yet they do not expect to earn the millions of dollars that football players receive. If teachers could supplement their retirement incomes selling autographs and memorabilia (used erasers anyone?), many would do so in a heart beat. It's hard to imagine a teacher saying, "It's not like a football player being paid millions and millions, and it's a shame that somebody who has spent his entire life teaching children has to do that."

As the second man to ever walk on the moon, not to mention the inspiration for Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin is a genuine American hero, a cultural icon who is sure to gain a new generation of fans in his his quest to compete against celebrities half his age as he spins around the dance floor with Ashly Costa on Dancing With the Stars. As did Cloris Leachman, the oldest contestant to ever appear on DWTS, Buzz Aldrin will be an inspiration to those in their golden years who use their age as a crutch for being less physically active, an attitude often based more on the turning of calendar pages than actual capability or potential.

Although Buzz Aldrin'small contentious comment was printed on the Internet as fact, the eternally optimistic part of me wants to believe that he was misquoted or taken out of context by the Zap2it.com reporter. It's possible the reporter steered him into the quote, saying something like, "Come on Buzz, you don't really need the money do you?" just to get a viral sound bite from the dancing astronaut.

Regardless, Aldrin's alleged statement highlights the fact that some people are never satisfied with their station in life, no matter what heights they reach. The phrase "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars," may not apply to Buzz Aldrin. He reached the moon, and it wasn't high enough.

Sources:
http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/03/dancing-with-the-stars-buzz-aldrin-im-forced-to-go-out-and-sing-for-my-supper.html
http://www.airforcetimes.com/money/financial_advice/ONLINE.INVEST.PENSION/