unclejimbo | Columbia... Godspeed...

kyburg and I went to San Francisco Friday night to visit

ceolyn. Woke up Saturday morning and was futzing with the reception on the TV when we heard the news.

My first reaction, "Oh, they're covering a Shuttle landing for a change?" Then, "Oh my God."

Small consolation can be taken in that they never knew what hit them. It was over too quick. I'd have posted sooner, but I have been rather busy of late and this has been the first chance I've had to post anything.

I took a look at some other posts as well...

*Shakes head in disbelief* I just can't believe that some people are so callous to minimize this tragedy by comparing it to something else. Yes, the people starving around the world is horrible... Yes, tens of thousands around the world are infected with AIDS and HIV... Yes, the political leaders seem more interested in blowing things up as opposed to looking for solutions...

But solutions... That's what the people in Columbia... and Challenger before them... THAT's what they were looking for. Maybe it wouldn't have an immediate effect... A cure for AIDS, a new food stuff... But it might have lead to something else equally useful.

And that's what made their deaths Saturday morning the more tragic. This wasn't a joyride, it was a search for answers to questions and a search for more questions to ask.

Some may question whether these people have earned the accolaides being offered to them. In my mind, I have to say yes. And I'm sure I'll find that I'm not alone in that opinion.