The Martian Chronicles Lesson Plan

Why does Spender think that having a wild party to celebrate a successful arrival on Mars is an "imported blasphemy" that is like a terrible insult to the great civilization that had died on the planet?

Spender is sensitive to the fact that Mars is a "tomb" whose great civilization is deserving of respect, if not reverence. He is repulsed by the unfeeling ignorance and self-centeredness of the other crew members, who seem not to be open to the experience of what Mars truly is.

Spender tells Wilder that he's mad because the men do not respect Mars and its former civilization. He says, "No matter how we touch Mars, we'll never touch it. Then we'll get mad. . . [and]. ....