Comparison Of Mikhail Ivankovs And The Manned Missiles

Mikhail Ivankov’s and Charles Ashland’s letters are powerful reminders to the world that behind every name is a person, with their own unique experience and emotions. The title itself, “The Manned Missiles”, hints to the reader that these spaceships were not simply equipment but have human beings inside, with lives and families. Both of the fathers feel grief surrounding their sons’ deaths and show pity towards each other. They put aside the feud between their nations and connect as human beings. Both hope that their son’s deaths are not in vain and lead to the end of the Cold War. They’re very similar in nature which shows that humans have more similarities than differences. Ivankov speaks about how Stepan did not enjoy war, but loved “the beauty and truth in space” (Vonnegut, 13). Stepan did not care about the rivalry of the United States and the Soviet Union, and did not want to go into space and study rockets to win the space race.
Something that stuck with me was the fact that both fathers have people that want to write the letter for them. Ivankov’s son wants to write the
Mikhail Ivankov’s decision to write a letter to Charles Ashland, basically to tell him that he does not hate him, but knows what he is going through, sparks worldwide conversation. He doesn’t want the world to be sad anymore, and tries to lighten the mood, as does Ashland. I, too, use humor to cope with difficult situations. Sarcasm can be the easiest way for me to deal with stress, especially. These fathers don’t want to be mourning anymore and know that their sons would not want them to be either. Both astronauts were depicted to have friendly personalities, and would feel that they died for a cause, not shamefully. Ivankov wants Ashand to know that Stepan loved what he did. Mikhail's simple act inspires the world to speak about peace and diplomacy. Ivankov doesn’t want the world to forget his son, and neither does