🚀 go-pugleaf

> I found the news coverage following the space shuttle extremely revolting
> and patriotic.
      ^^^^^^^^^


> Alan J Rosenthal

Excuse me, Alan, but it seems that you share a flaw with the right-wing
idiots that you probably despise as much as I do.

You've implied that "patriotic" = mindless, jingoistic, flag-waving, etc.

For Reagan, that's probably correct.  For a more precise usage, however....
(one can have grave doubts about the actions of ones country, be a member of
the opposition, whatever, and still be patriotic.  SOME times in the history
of the world those are the ONLY people who are being truly patriotic.)
No political followups, please.

Joke?  Oh, okay.  And now for the mandatory joke.

George Bush.


			-- from the musings of Jim Brunet

			   ihnp4/ima/ism780B
			   hao/ico/ism780B

	"In any large scale endeavor that has worked to the benefit of
mankind, there has been pain and sacrifice and loss.  We stand now at one of
the pivotal points in history.  We can say "no" to the unknown mysteries of
space, turn our backs, and announce our decline as a civilization.  Or we can
look at the stars, express our grief at the loss of CHALLENGER and its crew,
and then honor their lives by saying, 'We shall continue.'"