MB - I wish I could truthfully say that no single life is more precious than the next. But the fact is some contribute more to this world than others. For example, Einstein was a good thing - Hitler was not.

we "make a big deal" over deaths like the crew from Columbia because these people are special, and they died doing a job that is extraordinary. It takes a great deal of talent, intelligence, and courage to do what astronauts do.

It also takes a special person to choose the life of firefighter, policeman, soldier/sailor etc. Not many choose to put their lives on the line for people they don't know.

Thats why we make it a big deal when they die in the line of work.

What kind of work do you do?

Ray, I guess what MB is saying that if a soldier dies in action trying to save us from Terroist is the same as a drug dealer getting killed by a cop.
He better rethink that statement.

It is indeed a sad moment for people aound the world because of this tragedy.

NASA has done a great job all of these years. I personally do not thik that they will take shortcuts to meet a deadline and risk the life of their crew, billions of dollars in equipment, not to mention the amount of time that the upcoming investigation will put behing the space program.

BOMB if one of your relatives dies tragicaly and you mourne some people may say what is the big deal, people die all of the time. Well, that is uncall for. There are people out there that many of us look up to, some we do not even know, and went news like this hit the screens with live footage it hits hard to swallow.

I guess you must feel the same way about all of the unknown heroes who died helping others and trying to serve and protect on 9-11.

If we had not witnessed the desintegration of the shuttle or the destruction of those towers on TV many of us would not have felt the way we did or do.

There are people out there whose life have made a difference in humanity and the future of mankind. Like public servant, astronauts and service men.

People have forgotten how many lives were lost by patriots thruout te years to be were we are today, and how many lives we are still loosing and will loose to ensure that our children, grandchildren and new generations to come will have a better and safer place to live.

Every man and woman that have enlisted on a high risk job where his or her life can be at stake for for the benefit of our country are patriots to me all of these people are heroes.

NOW FOR THE CRAPPY NEWS OF THE DAY. HERE IS IRAQUI REACTION TO THIS TRAGEDY


IRAQIS SEE DIVINE JUSTICE
But Iraqis, facing the possibility of a U.S.-led assault on their country over banned weapons of mass destruction, said the shuttle tragedy was God’s retribution on Americans.
“We are happy that it broke up,” government employee Abdul Jabbar al-Quraishi said.
“God wants to show that his might is greater than the Americans. They have encroached on our country. God is avenging us,” he said.


As I get older and realize how lucky I am to be in this country and raise my children here.

I have found the best part of any political speech the last 3 words.

"GOD BLESS AMERICA"

[ 02-02-2003: Message edited by: Fercho ]

How about all the people trying to sell the shuttle parts on ebay? How could anyone try to make a quick buck off someone's death like that. I am glad to hear that ebay is pulling the stuff as quick as it goes up for sale!

Fercho, I wonder what the Iraq's said when Sadamn killed his own people with that gas a few years back. Did they blame that on God?
Fercho, on your post you mentioned NASA not taking short cuts but how about budget cuts?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,77303,00.html

[ 02-02-2003: Message edited by: elebouef ]

malebomb your comment is so unreal it doesn't even desreve a response

Ele,
You are correct, imo. Hindsight is 20/20, but in an endeavor into space where any mistake can be fatal, sending a craft up after seeing chit flying off is inexcusable. The management of the program should be fired at the very least, esp in light of poor decisions 17 yrs ago.

As Fercho said,The engineers are top notch. Look how those engineers got our boys back from apollo 13.. But mistakes/problems will ALWAYS occur..how they are handled is up to the technology mangagers, and they risked lives needlessly. If nobody saw that liftoff problem happen it would be a totally diff issue to me.

Im a tech manager and mgmt made a bad call, imo. A very bad call. Therapists will be with the family, but if i was a nasa mgr i would need somebody to keep from putting a 357 to my head.

Sorry if i offended anyone. This just breaks my heart to see this happen...making the same mistake twice. Just gimme a simple rule in place "if ANYTHING goes wrong we pull our people back in".

A simple rule like that would've aborted this flight. Even if the stuff flying off at lift-off did not cause the problem..a simple go-no/go safety rule like that should be in place from 17 yrs ago.

God bless the astronauts, take care of em Krista...and God forgive Nasa mgmt cause im havin a real hard time of it.

I'm sorry Riva bro's. Thanks for letting me vent.

[ 02-02-2003: Message edited by: dav_dman ]

malebomb, they take a much larger risk everyday, helping us become the premier super power we are in technology and economic consequenses. Yesterday the odds got them. That's the difference. They're heroes, because they deserve to be. You and me are only heroes to our mom's and kids.

Yeah Abdul won't be praising God when a 500 pound GPS guided bomb is closing in from a B-2 Spirit; which by the way is based in the great state of Missouri at Whiteman AFB.

Abdul probably had to say that or hussien would kill his family. The whole dam country is held hostage by that creep and his relatives. Can't wait to find his pieces all over a debris field.

Somewhere I read

" Only God can judge Saddam Hussein and its up to us to arrange that meeting"

He will pay..........soon or later he will for all that he has done to his own people.

[ 02-03-2003: Message edited by: Fercho ]

This is to a s*** that goes by the name MALEBOMB, what have you done with your life to say anything. Have you helped someone in need, have you served in the Armed Forces, do you do anything that will make my life or anyones safer or peaceful. I have served for 8 years in the USMC, seen good men die, heard of good men that died, for you to walk around in this great land. No, I do not think I have the status to be a Hero, but some do. Think of Ray, I'm sure he would like to be near his faimly, I sure did when I was there, and anyone else protecting our way of "LIFE". Thanks to all, that in someway help make the U.S.A. what it is. God Bless all of you.

O.k guys ... dont go labeling me as a Trekkie, but lets look at Star Trek and why there are no arabs in it.......... its because its set in the future!!! Good bye Saddam...

My wishes go to the family and friends of those astronauts.

There are so many jobs on this earth I know that I could never do, but if there was one, just one that I could do, just once, it would to be an astronaut. Can you even comprehend just what they do up there and what they experience.... its just purely awesome.

With reference to this Iraq issue, here in Australia we have send a substantial number of our armed forces as backup and assistance to the USA. C'mon Saddam..... come out come out whereever you are.

Leroy lets not forget how many Arab/Americans and Korean/Americans are part of our troops in the gulf and are standing by to take him out and serve their country.

I do not think that it is a Arab problem. Do you really think that all Arabs are like him??? If you do you are wrong.

Arabs are strong belivers of their faith and some of these leaders have taken adavantage of this to oppres their people. This is exactyly what happened in Afganistan with the Taliban and dont forget Iran and the college professor that was recently hangged for giving his opinion about clerics and goverment.

We have good and bad people in this world. Also think that in these countries where leaders control the media and what is release to the public, they filter all of the info and feed these people negative vibes about us. Only later they find out the truth.

We have some Arabs and Arab American forum members here and I have Arab frineds who I have come appreciate as individuals.

[ 02-03-2003: Message edited by: Fercho ]

Fercho, you are right. My statement was clouded by the bad not the good. I do not mean any disrespect to our friends on this board, our friends fighting for peace or our friends who do not share the same views as some.

I work with two arab decendants who classify themselves as Australians and that's also how I see them everyday, as friends not the enemy.

Peace.

I really wish we could keep politics out of the forum and most of all away from this post as it has nothing to do with politics

This is to a s*** that goes by the name MALEBOMB, what have you done with your life to say anything. Have you helped someone in need, have you served in the Armed Forces, do you do anything that will make my life or anyones safer or peaceful. I have served for 8 years in the USMC, seen good men die, heard of good men that died, for you to walk around in this great land. No, I do not think I have the status to be a Hero, but some do. Think of Ray, I'm sure he would like to be near his faimly, I sure did when I was there, and anyone else protecting our way of "LIFE". Thanks to all, that in someway help make the U.S.A. what it is. God Bless all of you.

Dude I know many military people, it is just a job, and most ***** about it, just because you are USMC does not make you some hero...

The loss of the Columbia hits all who believe in a bright future,a future where we the people of earth can transcend the quarreling that plagues mankind .
The space program is a work in progress , we must go on. Our hearts are heavy at the loss of seven dedicated individuals who have led the way for us all.We honour them by reafirming the quest of space flight for the good of all mankind!
Pray for their families and for those who must pick up the pieces and go on.

MaleBomb what are you doing for a living?
I used to sell BMWs and now I sell dead fish, those are ordinary jobs for the ordinary guy I am, when I'll die only my ordinary familly and ordinary friends will miss me and cry for me because they love me, I hope yours will too, whatever is the attitude you display here.
Now those people weren't accountants, salesmen or butchers, they were Buck Rogers.
Buck Rogers died and we are sad, stay out of it if you don't get it.
11

If you ever have a chance to see a shuttle close up you'll understand what an amazing marvel of engineering it is, just like if you ever meet a member of the astronaut program in person you'll understand what amazing people they are. My thoughts are with the Columbia astronaut's families and friends, because as much as we may feel we've lost they've lost so much more. My thoughts are with my friends and former colleagues who work for USA, because I'm sure they feel as if they've let down the astronauts, and the unfair disparagement being aimed at them in the media is undeserved ingratitude for their their hard work, skill, and expertise. My thoughts are with the remainder of the astronaut core, because I know how hard this must be on them, and how much harder it must be on the ones that love them. These are all people trying to achieve great things, and through these great things make our lives and the lives of our children better. I can only hope the condolences and gratitude being offered can help ease the pain for those directly affected by this tragedy and for all who share in their grief. May we all see the safest possible return to normalcy in the shuttle program, and the upholding of the desire to achieve greatness not for the individual, but for all.

sw