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Confederate flags on space station draw ire
MSNBC ^ | 6/13/06 | James Oberg

Posted on 06/14/2006 5:58:12 PM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom

Confederate flags flown aboard the international space station — and seemingly signed by a NASA astronaut — showed up last week on the online auction site eBay.

The original eBay listing indicated that the 4-by-6-inch flags were brought aboard the space station by Russian cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov in 2004, and an accompanying photo showed a sample flag that seemed to bear Sharipov’s signature as well as that of Leroy Chiao, his NASA colleague on the station. Yet another photo showed several of the rebel flags floating in a space station module.

The item was pulled from the auction on Monday by the seller, Alex Panchenko of USSR-Russian Air-Space Collectibles Inc. in Los Angeles — and on Tuesday, Panchenko told MSNBC.com that he removed the items from sale because he had concluded the flag and the authentication documents were forgeries.

However, Robert Pearlman, editor and founder of CollectSpace, said he believes the flags are authentic.

“The picture taken of the flags aboard the station says a lot,” he said. “It would be difficult to fake, given the style and I couldn't see the motivation to do so.” The “onboard-the-ISS” stamp, added Pearlman, is not known to have been counterfeited anywhere."

The disappearance of the flags followed a round of criticism over the weekend from former space scientist Keith Cowing, publisher of NASA Watch, an independent Web log. He cited the Confederate flags as an example of “bad judgment on the ISS.”

“You'd think that someone on the U.S. side of the ISS program would have expressed some concern about flying a symbol on the ISS that many Americans associate with slavery,” Cowing wrote.

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: civilwar; confederateflag; dixie; iss; losers; nasa; neoconfederate; pcpatrol; rebs; rednecksinspaaaaaace; slavestates; z
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Well Mr. PC Policeman did it ever occur to you that there are also many Americans who don't? When Mr. Cowing can walk the space walk instead of sitting on the sideline talking the space talk then he can decide what flag he'd like to carry on the space station.
1 posted on 06/14/2006 5:58:15 PM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

Something funny about this whole story. Maybe it's the collection of names involved.


2 posted on 06/14/2006 6:01:36 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Never a minigun handy when you need one.)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

They'll never make me ashamed of Dixie. There aren't enough Yankees on the planet for that.


3 posted on 06/14/2006 6:01:52 PM PDT by gcruse (http://gcruse.typepad.com)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

The Rebel flag uproar is so much hot air. Good God, doesn't anyone work for a living anymore... so much free time, so little common sense.


4 posted on 06/14/2006 6:02:03 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Hey Senators, what have you done with those Conservatives we sent to Congress? (CyberAnt Inspired))
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

What politically correct pervert is offended?


5 posted on 06/14/2006 6:03:35 PM PDT by OKIEDOC (There's nothing like hearing someone say thank you for your help.)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

6 posted on 06/14/2006 6:03:54 PM PDT by xcamel (Press to Test, Release to Detonate)
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To: DoughtyOne
The Rebel flag uproar is so much hot air.

Some Texans complain about people parading around with a Mexican Flag. Its as legitimate here, as the Rebel flag.

7 posted on 06/14/2006 6:05:17 PM PDT by Doe Eyes
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To: Oshkalaboomboom
“You'd think that someone on the U.S. side of the ISS program would have expressed some concern about flying a symbol on the ISS that many Americans associate with slavery,” Cowing wrote.

You'd think that someone wouldn't give a rat's ass about something so petty.

8 posted on 06/14/2006 6:05:21 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (My head hurts.)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom
Am I the only one who has noticed that our freedom to choose is being eroded day by day?
9 posted on 06/14/2006 6:05:53 PM PDT by ladyinred (In the case of Ann Coulter, the left can't handle the truth!)
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To: gcruse

bump


10 posted on 06/14/2006 6:06:40 PM PDT by bwteim (bwteim = Begin With The End In Mind / Must I always use a sarcasm off tag??)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

Anyone who is offended by a flag has a severe self-confidence issue, plain and simple.


11 posted on 06/14/2006 6:07:48 PM PDT by xrp (Fox News Channel: MISSING WHITE GIRL NETWORK)
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To: gcruse

Not all of us want to make you ashamed. In fact, I'm not sure your problem is as much with Yankees as it is liberals from all over.


12 posted on 06/14/2006 6:09:37 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Never a minigun handy when you need one.)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom
Editor's 13 June 6:40 pm EDT update: I just spoke with Alex Panchenko, the person who posted this item on eBay. Panchenko called to tell me that he had spoken with Salizhan Sharipov today and that Sharipov knew absolutely nothing about these flags. Panchenko told me that his source for these flags was a third party and not Sharipov. As such he is now convinced that these flags are not what they were presented as being and that they are forgeries.
13 posted on 06/14/2006 6:10:07 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (USAF, TAC, 12th AF, 366 TFW, 366 MG, 366 CRS, Mtn Home AFB, 1978-81)
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To: DoughtyOne
,,,,so much free time, so little common sense.

The Confederate Air Force changed its name to the Commemorative Air Force a few years ago.

The Confederate Space Station has a nice ring to it.

14 posted on 06/14/2006 6:10:39 PM PDT by TYVets (God so loved the world he didn't send a committee)
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To: ladyinred

> Am I the only one who has noticed that our freedom to choose is being eroded day by day?

Yeah! I bet some people would get all snippy if someone decided to take Nazi flags into space too! Damned fascists won't let anybody have any fun!


15 posted on 06/14/2006 6:11:09 PM PDT by orionblamblam (I'm interested in science and preventing its corruption, so here I am.)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

Big deal.


16 posted on 06/14/2006 6:13:21 PM PDT by Brilliant
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To: Doe Eyes

"Some Texans complain about people parading around with a Mexican Flag. Its as legitimate here, as the Rebel flag."

Well, we know flying the mexican flag won't get you deported in every city in america. Funny how we aren't so sure about the Confederate flag.


17 posted on 06/14/2006 6:18:21 PM PDT by RFEngineer
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

The Moon shall rise again!


18 posted on 06/14/2006 6:19:55 PM PDT by Namyak (Oderint dum metuant)
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To: orionblamblam

It is an insult to compare the Confederate flag with the flag of Nazi Germany.


19 posted on 06/14/2006 6:20:53 PM PDT by AzaleaCity5691 (6-6-06 A victory for reason)
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To: TYVets

"The Confederate Space Station has a nice ring to it."

We don't need no stinking Little Round Top.......


20 posted on 06/14/2006 6:21:12 PM PDT by RFEngineer
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