GET RIGHT BACK UP

New York Post ^ | 2/02/03 | JOHN RINGO

[kattracks]

I was in the barracks taking a lunch break from a course when someone came in and told us the Challenger had just exploded. We thought he was making a very bad joke. Then we watched the replay. Over and over and over again. It was as if the world had ended. No event could possibly be so shocking.

[Russell Scott]

My only comment on this subject is a question: is the International Space Station a modern Tower of Babel? I hope President Bush understands that God hates globalism. Any attempts to continue pushing that agenda will be met with opposition from Heaven. Especially when it involves compromising American security, or using the American people's money, to curry favor (bribe) with our phony friends in the U.N., for the sake of a deceptive new world order.

[Right_in_Virginia]

"We can build another space shuttle. And there will be applicants out the door to fly on it. That is why our enemies hate us."

Rarely have words more true been written.

[goodieD]

Perhaps if we quit spending so much money on the space program and started giving some of that to our military, our servicemen and women and their families wouldn't have to apply for foodstamps and accept food donations from churches. It's a national disgrace..the space program is fluff.. a strong military is a necessity.

[nopardons]

God hates " globalism " ? You speaking for GOD now ?

You don't understand the meaning of the story about the Tower of Babel; obviously. If and it's a BIG " IF ", GOD didn't want mankind to fly off into space, he would have put a stop it long before now. Is it your contention that each nation should have its own space program and that ONLY Russians , acording to you & GOD, can fly in Russian spaceships and ditto for American, etc. ?

[Brytani]

What we spend on our space program is 1% of what we spend on welfare. Maybe that is why we are relying on 1970's technology. I'd rather some welfare queen get a job and stop having 3 kids by 6 different men and increase the space exploration budget.

[Caipirabob]

I've tossed the thoughts around in my mind several times already. I've read how the Iraqis laughed at our tragedy and stated "God is punishing the US" and so on.

The truth is, sometimes horrible things happen. These people, their families and Americans all over deserved this no more than the nearly 3,000 innocent taken in the attack of Muslim murderers.

We can only turn to God for comfort and pray for the family and friends of our dearest lost.

But I do not believe God has turned away from us. Not for a moment. After my thoughts and prayers for the crew, my next thought is "keep the faith".

[KneelBeforeZod]

God gives us guidance but lets us make our own mistakes.

[NYpeanut]

3 kids by 6 different men? Do you need another cup of coffee, or do I?

[Greybird]

But mourn as well our souls of coal, burned to blackness by the horrors we have seen.

Speak for yourself, sir. I wept openly this morning. And this afternoon. And this evening. The quality of those involved in this loss -- as they pursued achievement, just as those slaughtered on Nine Eleven pursued being productive -- will burn through and dissolve the cynicism.

My soul is not dead. I don't know about yours.

[RadioAstronomer]

I was going to reply, however, post #6 said it well enough.

[Campion]

They go up in what they know well is a Rube Goldberg contraption composed of low-bidder parts and poorly-thought-out 1970s technology. The current favorite opinion is that some of the thermal tiles were damaged on launch. Big surprise, the thermal tiles that they bet their lives on for every trip are as fragile as Dresden China. And they're only one of thousands of frankly lousy compromises found in the space shuttles.

We can build another space shuttle.

Let's not throw good money after bad. It's time to get serious about a second-generation reusable vehicle that fixes some of those lousy compromises.

[vannrox]

This editorial best reflects my feelings on the matter.

[Kevin Curry]

You must be a glutton for punishment.

[Brytani]

Think daytime talk shows - the ones where they bring on some "poor" woman on to find out "who's the father" and go through a host of men she's slept with until the right one is found.

Unfortunately, this happens all too often, for real, in family courts.