Shuttle tragedy overpublicized By Thad Kreisher Entertainment Editor and Scott Wyland Staff Writer Recently, as we’re sure you know, the space shuttle Challenger exploded during lift off, killing all aboard. Most people in the nation would agree that this was a great tragedy and a time for national mourning. We do not necessarily agree. We agree that it was truly a sad event. Death is always a sad event, yet it is a fact we must all live with. However, it is also a fact that oft times we seem to find it easy to ignore.That is, until it happens to some heroic figure. When this case, the hero wasn’t any of the other six astronauts killed, but Christa McAuliffe. We identified with Christa. She represented the common person. So consequently, her death was like a death in the family. We will say with fair certainty that if the shuttle would have exploded with merely trained, profes sional astronauts on board, the public reaction would not have been so intense. After all, astronauts live with risk. That’s part of their job. Without Christa, the media might have given the whole story maybe fifteen minutes coverage. We would have been spared the hours of repeated explo sion footage, the speculations from NASA about the causes, the apologies to save face, and most assured ly, the distastefully replayed Hollywood-style close up shots of the horrified Mcauliffe parents as they watched their daughter disintegrate with the ill-fated shuttle. So across America, flags flew at half mast in honor of the seven astronauts. The nation is shocked and mourns their death. Letters pour in conveying con dolences both to Christa McAuliffe’s family and to the school children whom she taught. But what’s as lamentable as these deaths we’re mourning is the hypocrisy being revealed in its entirety. We don’t mean to condemn these actions. On the contrary, it is extremely commendable and encouraging to see such a wide spread expression of concern for our fellow humans. However, let us cite the fact that thousands of Americans die every day just in auto accidents. Hun dreds at a time perish in airline disasters. Worse yet, each day thousands will die of hunger in Africa, and more in conflicts throughout Central America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, as did 53,000 of our Vietnam vets whom we didn’t honor for over a decade. Across the face of the earth oppression, famine and human rights atrocities run rampant. Perhaps it seems that we paint a dark picture of world events. We merely wish to point out that the thousands who die each day are not just nameless statistics. They are humans, many of whom die deaths far worse than that experienced by the crew of the Challenger, deaths just as tragic and untimely, and certainly just as courageous. Why are the flags not at half-mast for these victims? The answer is sim ple; because only the heros get the flags. The shuttle explosion has been compared much with the JFK shooting insofar as the public shock. The reason for the shock is apparent. Like the JFK shooting, it happened before America’s eyes on Na tional TV. It would seem that death must happen spontaneously and unexpectedly during a telecast to have any impact on us. Otherwise, it’s treated like a distant concept happening to a distant somebody else. To these writers, on a human scale, the shuttle ex plosion was nothing more than a glorified plane crash. Like most plane crashes, it was an accident. Unlike war and famine, it could not have been prevented. We’re sorry they died, but we’re also sorry for the thousands of others who die each day. News Calender of Events To Skippy: Some cars are red, some cars are blue. Your car is a toilet, but we still love you. Thumper and Bambi To my Babzy: To the bestest valentine what I eber nude!! Love, Skippy To Bob: Thanks for the grade. You saved my life! Will you be my valentine? Ju Ju To Bobby Joe: I’m in love with the vessel the Potter’s creating you to be! Jill To Sarah: Happy Valentine’s Day. I love you. T.W. February 11, 1986 To Mel: There is a guy named Mel Who most don’t know very well His help is so grand Let’s all give a ,hand To the man in A V who is swell Your Fans To John: Roses are red, violets are blue Valentine’s Day was designed just for you. Just remember, if you need any I.C. you know where to come! Love, Jill To the cute guy who put in my nickle: I kept the copy. Want to be mine? To Frank: Happy Valentine’s Day. Good luck at regionals. Love ya Babes! A. Continued on PAGE 5 Thursday, Feb. 13 “What You Don’t Know This week, Feb. 10-14, is Sexual Awareness Can Hurt You,” a presentation on sexually week, and is the subject of a series of ASG transmitted diseases will be conducted by public health specialists, Robert and Marcie Gowan, sponsored events. Monday, Feb. 10 kicks off Sexual Awareness in P104 from noon to 1:00pm. Friday, Feb. 14, we have the climax of Sexual Week with “What Every Man Should Know About Birth Control,” a presentation by Dr. Awareness Week, in which students will play Ronald Powell in the Community Center’s ASG’s own version of “The Dating Game,” small dining room, from 11:00 am to noon. with ASG Vice-President, Shawn Watterberg, Also on Feb. 10 will be the Mr. and Mrs. Legs acting as host. Come one, come all, to the Sadie Hawkins contest from noon to 1:00 pm in the CC Mall. Tuesday, Feb. 11, Sexual Awareness Week Dance. There will be a social hour from 8:00 to continues with an open forum, “Dating in the 9:00 pm. The dance will begin at 9:00 pm and Eighties,” with Student Program Specialist, last until 1:00am. Top 40 and Swing music will Paul Kyllo, serving as moderator, in this ASG be performed live by “Swing Shift”. Cost is $3 version of “Town Hall.” Following the forum, single, and $5 couples. which takes place at 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, Pat Feb. 19, Wednesday. James Hersch, Krum and Erna Lewis, of the College’s nursing songwriter/guitarist/vocalist, will perform department will speak on “What Every Woman from noon to 1:00pm in the CC Mall. Should Know About Birth Control,” in the Feb. 21, Friday. The Family Night Movie will be “Terminator.” There will be two showings. small dining room from 1:00pm to 2:00 pm. Wednesday, Feb. 12, we have the ASG/Red The first will be from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm in Cross Blood Drive, which will be held in the McLoughlin Theatre, and the second from 7:00 Community Center from 9:00am to 2:00 pm. pm to 9:00 pm. will be held in the CC Mall. Also on this date, a Red Cross spokesperson Feb. 26, Wednesday. ASG will hold an open will' speak on AIDS, also in the Community forum with the student body in the Community Center form noon to 1:00 pm. Center from noon to 12:30pm. 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