Christa McAuliffe, the one civilian on the Challenger, died so that the Reagan Administration could blunt criticism of its education policy by putting a teacher in space. The media lapped it up, although there was some criticism to be found before the accident. Afterwards there seemed to be some collective unspoken agreement not to bring up the dubious propaganda purpose of her presence on the flight.
Whether or not their decision was wise is certainly up for debate, glee over their deaths is morally repugnant. I feel nothing but sadness at the loss of life and horror at so much lack of compassion for fellow human beings.
This is similar to my reaction to the deaths of climbers on Everest. What possible good is advanced by this kind of risky adventurism? Certainly, spend your money as you wish: but to do so for no other reason than to have a good story to tell, seems pointless.
I find the whole situation equivalent to feeling bad for someone who jumped off a building with no parachute. The only person I feel bad is the 19 year old kid (everybody makes questionable decisions at that age)
I’d say it’s more like someone who jumps off a building or cliff *with* a parachute, but it doesn’t open in time. They risked their lives for a thrill.
A father should never bring his young son on something like this. That’s tragic. Imagine the mother.
Christa McAuliffe, the one civilian on the Challenger, died so that the Reagan Administration could blunt criticism of its education policy by putting a teacher in space. The media lapped it up, although there was some criticism to be found before the accident. Afterwards there seemed to be some collective unspoken agreement not to bring up the dubious propaganda purpose of her presence on the flight.
Whether or not their decision was wise is certainly up for debate, glee over their deaths is morally repugnant. I feel nothing but sadness at the loss of life and horror at so much lack of compassion for fellow human beings.
This is similar to my reaction to the deaths of climbers on Everest. What possible good is advanced by this kind of risky adventurism? Certainly, spend your money as you wish: but to do so for no other reason than to have a good story to tell, seems pointless.
I find the whole situation equivalent to feeling bad for someone who jumped off a building with no parachute. The only person I feel bad is the 19 year old kid (everybody makes questionable decisions at that age)
I’d say it’s more like someone who jumps off a building or cliff *with* a parachute, but it doesn’t open in time. They risked their lives for a thrill.
A father should never bring his young son on something like this. That’s tragic. Imagine the mother.