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From: mdm@pur-ee.UUCP (Mike D McEvoy)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Challenger and the Media
Message-ID: <3698@pur-ee.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 3-Feb-86 16:48:02 EST
Article-I.D.: pur-ee.3698
Posted: Mon Feb  3 16:48:02 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 5-Feb-86 02:01:43 EST
References: <152800003@uiucuxc>
Reply-To: mdm@pur-ee.UUCP (Mike D McEvoy)
Organization: Cybotech Robotics @ Purdue
Lines: 27

As fate would have it, I was on the way to the airport when the news came over
the radio about the Challenger.  I turned on the old Watchman TV to catch the
instant replay.  The ability to be instantly in touch with the rest of the
world is amazing.  

As I proceeded on my journey that day, I ended up in Concord, NH
that evening.  I stopped at a grocery store and was struck by the incredible
grief of everone...  The only noise was of the the cash registers.  Then the
MEDIA struck and the next thing I knew there was a camera in my face and a 
very insensitive reporter was asking " and how do YOU feel about the....?".
About a half hour later I stopped by the local Catholic church to spend a few
moments reflecting on the days events and once again a camera popped into my 
face.

I will never understand the mind of some reporters.  How a human being can 
be that insensitive  to walk into a town and start asking "and how do 
you feel..?" I will never know.  I guess it takes a special type of sub-
human.  I don't feel bad for myself.  My grief over the loss did not
prevent me from expressing my opinion effectively to both reporters. I 
do feel sorry for the students, parents and others who were subjected
to this indecent act.  Several could only respond with a cry of utter
despair, a sound that I will remember almost as long as the picture of
the Challenger disappearing into a fireball.

May the Challenger Team rest in peace and may the dream continue.

Mike McEvoy