NAVAJO ELDER REMEMBERS HISTORY...........

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.

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."