A Global Loss

[bronwynrh]

Space Shuttle Columbia carried seven people who proved yet again that the principles of courage, adventure and scientific inquiry transcend the limitations of borders and politics and geography.

The crew included six Americans, Cmdr. Dr. Laurel Clark, Lt. Col. Michael Anderson, Cmdr. Col. Rick Husband, Pilot Cmdr. William McCool and Pilot Capt. David Brown, and Dr. Kapana Chawla, who was also the first Indian-born woman astronaut. Also on board, the first Israeli astronaut, Col. Ilan Ramon.

I know you guys know this already, because you've been seeing the news. I just wanted to write their names down for myself. And I wanted to point out the fact that the nation of India and the nation of Israel have both suffered terrible losses today. Indeed, the world has suffered a terrible loss when a great cooperation such as this, which was such a successful mission, right up to the very end, ends in such disaster.

Comments

[ashfault76.livejournal.com]

What intrigues/frightens me is wondering how people like Sadam Hussein are going to take this. I'm betting their thoughts are along the lines of "yipee, the great american evil has suffered itself another devastating blow, and as a bonus extra they took out an israeli with them." Sick, I know, but probably what he's thinking.

nice

[(Anonymous)]

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of--wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never Lark, or even Eagle flew -
And while with silent lifting mind, I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

John Gillespie McGee, 1922-1944

SA

Re: nice

[bramey.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting that here - I found it elsewhere yesterday and was going to post it, but haven't had the time.

Thanks, Aunt Sharyn