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From: galenr@shark.UUCP (Galen Redfield)
Newsgroups: net.space,net.columbia,net.sf-lovers,net.followup
Subject: Re: Space Shuttle Children's Fund
Message-ID: <1641@shark.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 7-Feb-86 16:24:02 EST
Article-I.D.: shark.1641
Posted: Fri Feb  7 16:24:02 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Feb-86 14:22:45 EST
References: <221@hadron.UUCP> <325@lifia.UUCP> <505@eneevax.UUCP>
Reply-To: galenr@shark.UUCP (Galen Redfield)
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
Lines: 51
Keywords: Don't fly off the handle when you're full of ....
Xref: utcs net.space:5110 net.columbia:2024 net.followup:5568

[I delete some re-quoting for brevity]

In an amazing display of diplomacy and insight, Dave Hsu writes (or rants):
>Francois Felix INGRAND writes:
>>klr@hadron.UUCP writes:
>>>	A trust fund has been established...
>>>	to provide financial assistance to the children...
>>Is the Social Budget of USA so poor that American people must create a fund
>>for the astronauts' children? 
>>-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>>Francois Felix INGRAND       (-: Pourquoi tant de haine... :-(     \ | / 
>
>[flame on, 104%]
>The shape of our `Social Budget' is completely irrelevant to the creation of a
>fund for the families of deceased astronauts.

It's true!  We'll take up any noble cause at the drop of a hat.  It's the
American Way to try solving any problem, even bereavement, by pouring money
on it.  And nobody better criticize us for it!

>                                               They sacrificed their private
>lives just to pursue the common dream of all mankind to explore;

Sure they did.  They didn't care if anyone even noticed.  They did it for
totally selfless reasons.  They didn't think it would be heroic, exciting, or
interesting.  They weren't even thinking about succeeding.  They just wanted
to pursue the common dream of all mankind.  (I did not realize that starving
people in Ethiopia wanted to explore.  Thanks for pointing that out, Dave.)

>                                                                  in the end
>they parted with much more than their privacy and it just so happens that some
>of us who remain earthbound feel the need to thank the unseen families behind
>our most visible heroes.

Yes, thank you, unseen families, for losing your loved ones.  We really do
appreciate it.  Thanks a lot, good job.  Have some money as a token of our
gratitude.  Now we'll all feel better.  

>
>Perhaps you are unfamiliar with such things, Monsieur Ingrand, but here in the
>United States we like to take care of our own.
>
>-dave
>the Dream is Alive
>--

Boy, Dave, you sure put that French guy in his place.  That'll teach him to
ask questions on the net about American social conditions!

Warm regards,
Galen.