[chance33_98]

distinguishes between Iran-US political row and scientific

How very sad that others I have seen on the web today do not.

[this_ol_patriot]

...expressed regret over the explosion of the Columbia Space Shuttle over the US skies and expressed condolences with the family members of its US and Indian crew.

Something missing here?

[CWOJackson]

Thank you people of Iran.

[MadIvan]

There's nothing wrong with the vast majority of the Iranian people; their government is what is unfortunate about them.

This expression of sympathy is not unexpected. A team of American wrestlers went to Iran a couple of years ago, and while the official newspapers had to toe the line in terms of hating the American government, they did express affection for the American wrestlers.

There is something of a cultural love affair with American in Iran - which was open during the Shah, and is kept in secret now. Hopefully their odious government will go and that relationship will be renewed.

Regards, Ivan

[weegee]

Check the threads linked by keyword. Some other nations appear to have also set aside political differences.

A real shame that some nations did not react this way to the 9/11 attack (even some "friendly" nations said that we deserved "it").

I also have a question. Does anyone know the religion of the woman who was born in India? I did not see it in her bio. She could be Hindu, Muslim, Christian, or something else.

There has been a lot of focus on the Israeli astronaut onboard but some muslims have difficulties with people of other faiths as well.

I'm not trying to give any hint to a conspiracy by passengers or directed at "targets" on the shuttle; I am trying to put world press (and more specifically middle eastern/pakistani press) in perspective with regards to the astronauts' backgrounds.

I know that 2 of the astronauts were Christians at a church in the Clear Lake area but I see no reason to give further details.