Comments on: Imagine the Uproar Today

By: Progressive Conservative

Progressive Conservative — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:11:18 +0000

TP, I don’t know that I see it as any kind of political statement. I think it was Christmas Eve, they were farther from home than any other humans had ever been and they were struck by a feeling of something bigger. I think for me, personally, if I was in that position I wouldn’t be thinking of myself as an American… looking back on that view I would probably feel very interconnected with everyone on Earth.

Granted, today I would cringe too…not so much becauseI was offended but because that politically correct mentality has permeated everything.

By: Turkish Prawn

Turkish Prawn — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:11:00 +0000

Eh. It was a different time.

Was it harmful for them to read it? Nah. Not really. But it was a bit… out of place, to do so. Don’t forget that at the time, we were in a winner takes all, staring contest with the USSR.

The ‘GODLESS’ USSR!

Times have changed. I’m no atheist, but if a shuttle crew did that today, I’d be cringing. Religion, in my opinion, is a private thing and using “company” equipment for religious purposes is well within in a “no go” area for me.

At the time of the above reading, it was done (at least in part) to make a point that we had made it and the Soviets had not. It was us (God’s on our side), versus the Godless empire. If anything, I think it cheapens the text to some degree and that is my primary reason for wanting to avoid any repetition the event. If the crew wanted to have a Christmas service, then fine. More power to them. To the best of my knowledge though, none on board were pastors or Priests, so to broadcast this seems a bit… I don’t know… trite.

Turkish Prawn

By: Progressive Conservative

Progressive Conservative — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:24:44 +0000

Check out the update in the post for the text of the actual reading.

NP, It’s hard to imagine a time when you would feel the hand of the Creator more than looking back on that picture.

By: NP

NP — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:15:17 +0000

It makes me sad that people react that way when instead those who don’t believe could take it they would have taken a passage from Shakespeare.

On another note, how moving to see that beautiful picture above and hear the words they read!

By: Ames

Ames — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:36:15 +0000

I don’t think you’re right about the atheists wanting to sue over that business, and if you are, I’d like to say I’m on your side. The way I imagine the Apollo 8 situation, it’s a balance between the establishment clause and the free exercise clause. The astronauts, being given a forum on the public airwaves (public, right? Otherwise, no question it’s fine), have the right to express themselves as they see fit, and the establishment clause interest is minimal because people who don’t like it can simply turn it off. Plus, it’s a little more of a show of religion: symbolic, not an expense of state resources. And I’m more fine with the symbolism – the neighborhood baby-Jesus creches – than with state funding of “creation science,” for example. Read Noah Feldmann’s “Divided by God” – Feldmann and I see eye to eye on this issue.

Although it was like pulling teeth to get him to sign my book at this symposium, even though he used to freaking teach at my freaking school.

By: Ubiquitous Che

Ubiquitous Che — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:23:48 +0000

Yes.