Shuttle Disaster Question
 

I know the shuttle disaster is a major issue and I have the utmost sorrow for the families of the victims, but I would like to ask a question:


Are Americans more upset about the shuttle explosion because...

1. You lost 6 people and a guest.

2. It cost you hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars; and probably put your space program back about 5 years.

3. This is something that has burst your over inflated ego in a time when war is looming?


Or other?

Seriously, how does this affect daily life in America?

Huh

I can't speak for anyone but myself.

My reactions to the shuttle disaster have been very mixed.

First I was shocked and surprised. After so many missions, you don't expect anything like this.

I was filled with sorrow for the families (especially the 12 children) of the 7 who died, but at the same time proud of the astronauts who lost their lives doing something they loved.

I'm proud of how the residents in Texas and Louisiana are handling this. I wish people in this country rallied together all the time rather than just when something very bad or very good happens.

Not a bad question.

I think that, for many people, it seems like this is one more horrible thing on top of all of the other bad things that have happened to America in the last couple of years. The 2000 election, the economy, 9/11, Enron, the coming attacks on Iraq, Pete Townsend and Peewee Herman getting arrested for child porn, etc.

For me personally, I am saddened both by the loss of life and also by the possibility that this will slow down the space program or give some stupid people an excuse to try to shut it down altogether. I would like to see a man on Mars in my lifetime. The odds are that it won't happen, and this accident probably makes the chances even lower.

Stuff like this always reminds me of the last entry found in Robert Scotts diary after his party froze to death trying to reach the South Pole..

"We took risks. We knew we took them. Things have come out against us. We have no cause for complaint."

The right attitude to take imo.

See, the thing about the shuttle is this....

No matter your religion, no matter what side of the goverment you like, no matter your social status, no matter your race, no matter if you want war or not, no matter if you like abortion or anything else.....

everybody loves the Space program.

What kid here in America does not have dreams of going up in space and floating around? What kid does no look up at the moon and wonder what it would be like to be up there?

And shows like star trek and movies like star wars just further the love and the draw of space.

No matter if the astronauts are houshold names or not, everybody thinks of them as great people and look up to them.

And to see what happened to them is just horrible. The threat of war, the suck ass economy and the crappy president we have has nothing to do with the sorrow the American people feel.

America lost great people. They will be missed.

:(

My question isn't too unrelated with adult web sites.

I've noticed, (and you could tell me I'm wrong;) I've noticed that whenever tragedy hits, especially in large countries like the US, that people use the internet a lot more and tend to want to stay home rather than go out, so this tends to generate more sales for us folk.

It happened just after 9/11 too. At least it did for me.

I feel sorry for the spiders on board....such a waste of their tiny lives!

I feel bad for the astronauts just up there doing their job, and doing what they WANTED and LOVED to do. It was a horrible way to die and I hope nothing like this ever happens again. Them people worked and waited their whole lives to be able to go to space. The families have to be in shock. I know I would be. To have such a happy time turned around into something terrible.

It makes me sad on how helpless the astronauts were. They couldnt prevent or stop anything from happening. I can imagine the instant that one of them knew something wasnt right, How horrible that must have been. Not even enough time to think I'd say. Just sad sad stuff...

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...

I want to see a man on the Moon in my lifetime. Odds are not very promising...

:winkwink:

I just love these loaded questions, Why do you ask, is it because:

1.) The shithole you live in has such a hard time just feeding and keeping the peasants at bay that they could never put together a space program?

2.) You're so fucking jealous of the U.S. that you use any means to critique us, even a national disaster with loss of human life.

3.) You're too stupid to realise that a setback in the space program is a setback for the entire scientific community, not just the U.S.?

:321GFY :321GFY :321GFY :321GFY :321GFY

also, for those of us who were impacted by Challenger it brings back flashbacks of the sorrow that was across our country at that time. At the age I was it was the first major disater that I was old enough to take in. I can remember every detail and this makes it even more clear.

Wilbo, you're an inbred hick, shut the fuck up.

I was asking a serious question. I live in the US 6 months of the year, dick cheese. I have no qualms with the US.

Then WTF you talking about our 'overinflated' ego? We got where we are today, as the #1 superpower BECAUSE of our ego.

U S OF FUCKIN A. We own the world, rest of you are renting.


:BangBang: :321GFY :BangBang: :321GFY

3. This is something that has burst your over inflated ego in a time when war is looming?



And that's not a leading question ? Fuck off asshole :321GFY :321GFY

Good question.

The space program and a space shuttle are SYMBOLIC of things in America that we are proud of. Burning a flag may have no negative consequence for the world but burning an American flag in front of an American will quite possibly get you in a fight. The flag is a symbol. The US space program is representative of American technology, science, and industry.

Of course, other nations have their own symbols and some even the same symbols.

Excuse me if I don't get choked up over the American flag.

Let me break some things down for you.

Your American flag a symbol of how the white, racist minds of your founders built up enough equity in your land, so much so that they proudly raped it's aboriginal people and it's imported slave community; of their culture and dignity.

So don't talk to me about your flag of "unity and peace". The American Eagle proudly presents your true meaning. In the grasp of one claw it has an olive branch, in the grasp of it's other, it has arrows. Drop the arrows, if you truly desire to dominate the world.

Tell me what Americans get out of this false collective belief that you're number one? Nothing, that's what you get. This has been force fed to you through clever media marketing and capitalistic propaganda. The only people you can brag to, is yourselves.

When you get into other peoples business as much as the US does, you should expect to be knocked down a notch and be put back into the realm of reality. If I hear another of these stupid "we are the best comments" I swear I'll take a bat to the guy.

The space program was developed just to give the American people something to be proud of, not that much of an accomplishment if you ask me. Presidents 30-40 years ago took large chunks of the American budget, just to put a man on the moon, in the meanwhile putting America into a downward spiral regarding economy.

Why? because the almighty red west was getting too close to winning the chairmanship seat in the boardroom of world order. George Carlin said it best "Dick waving contest".

The stuff that's happening, it's nothing new. Reagan was Leading the struggle against the Soviet "Evil Empire" and restoring the strength of the American economy after years of economic recession and inflation, and of national humiliation of Vietnam over 15 years ago. Sound familiar?

He rallied them behind the national symbols that the space program embodies: America's drive for exploration and adventure and its scientific and technological achievements.

At a time when national tragedies like the Sept 11 terrorist attacks and the Columbia disaster are broadcast live on television before anxious American and global viewers, the pressure on the American President to 'do something' is enormous.

Not only is the US continuing to move troops to the Persian Gulf in preparation for an attack on Iraq, but there are also reports that additional US air and naval forces are being sent to North-east Asia in response to the escalating crisis over North Korea's nuclear program.

Notice how you jumped on the overinflated ego part of my question? how suprising. It's that kind of big headed response I was expecting, maybe I did have intentions to develop some in depth conversation about the subject. Fucking cry babies.

Oh and this number #1 superpower crap should just leave your vocabulary. America is far from being the number #1 superpower. How can any person have that kind of ignorance in their words, when you have the highest population of homeless people.

What American people have found themselves in, is a situation of many many years of international medling, so much so that everytime someone powers up a reactor, America has to go check it out, and see why they're doing it. Any anger you personally feel, should be taken out on your government who put you in that position.

America's business is war. The only thing you should be proud of, is your true ability to love your fellow human beings. But hang on, that's a global view that everyone shares, everyone with a true love for life that is.

Such hostility.

No denial here. But I assume you country was bread out of purity into purity. Know one got fucked...did they?

We don't want to dominate the world. The US has gotten itself into tons of trouble from continuously trying to help the world.

It's not a false belief. We are number one. Find me a country in need that wouldn't KILL to have the US economy. Even as shitty as it is right now.

The US is screwed where or not they get in the mix. If we don't, the attitude changes to hate because we aren't helping. Oh, and...If you bring a bat, relish the moment. Afghanistan helped Al Qeada bring a bat. Look what they got in return.

You act as is this is the first time it's happened in history. The Acropols, Pyramids, Eiffel Tower, INSERT LANDMARK HERE?

I know, I'll let a percieved enemy get the chairmanship. That's smart.

I'm not sure what you're getting at.

Yeah, and...?

Are you making excuses in favor, or against?

Let's see, a country takes an agressive stance with nukes and you want us not to defen ourselves?

It worked. :)

Homelessness has what to do with superpowerdom [TM]?

Fuck yeah we check it out. It could be capable of attacking.

America's business is not war it's money. It's why this board exists today, and it's why you hang around. If you feel this strongly then go without your US rebills. All you are doing is supporting a cause you hate.

:2 cents: