We have much to lose if we do not continue space exploration
It was a sad day when the space shuttle Columbia was lost with all aboard. Since then, I have heard some say, abandon the space flights. That would be a sad day also.
It is tragic that those lives were lost. But to keep it all in perspective, let us remember the thousands of lives lost perfecting flight through the air, or even exploring the wilds on the Earth's surface. I also have heard it said that almost every major building project -- be it a skyscraper, a great ship, a bridge, a tunnel, a power plant or even an auditorium -- has at least one life lost.
There is much to be gained from space exploration. Let us continue to reach for the stars even as we mourn for those lost space explorers.
BOB DOWNS
Monroeville
A familiar sadness
It all comes rushing back. It is once again 1986; I am doing some housecleaning, not quite aware of the babbling idiot box in the background when a phrase catches my attention: malfunction in space.
I remember not being able to reconcile "malfunction" with the other words I was hearing: explosion, contrails, Challenger. Dust rag in hand I remember being frozen in front of my television, viewing but not really seeing the video provided that day. It was incomprehensible to me, this "malfunction."
On Saturday I had that same kind of disconnected sense of reality when I logged onto my homepage to check e-mail and the daily headlines. The phrase jumped off the screen and froze me just as in '86: "NASA Loses Communication With Columbia." Loses communication?
Tears welled up and I felt a heaviness begin to settle on my heart. Once again my country must absorb the loss of life.
I know it won't be long before the media will turn their focus from the simple, human feeling of grief and begin pointing fingers and placing blame and all that comes with it. Government agencies will be attacked, the mission and the existence of the space program itself will be questioned and the expense will be totaled.
But before all that happens, I'll take time to mourn for the people who died. Is it the same as in 1986? Not exactly. Our lives have changed in ways unthinkable 17 years ago. The everyday national concerns that have moved us to the brink of war will by the evening news once again take precedence.
Yet I can't help thinking of a remark made by the insightful Mark Twain: "History doesn't repeat itself -- at best it sometimes rhymes."
KAREN CALLENDER
West Deer
Progress through courage
Within recent history the word "courage" has been used extensively in describing actions that have no effect in improving the world in which we live. For example, some say that a 37-year-old quarterback has courage when he dives for a first down. Such actions do require a small degree of courage, but they pale in comparison with the actions undertaken by the men and women aboard the space shuttle Columbia.
Whether it's striving to become an astronaut or deciding to join a branch of the armed services, men and women undertake these calls to duty even though they know that death is a realistic consequence within these careers. In these examples, they come to serve the progress of science, which makes our lives more comfortable and longer lasting, or they come to defend a country whose spirit is centered around life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Men and women who have such bold ambition must learn to face these potential threats to their lives, and they must ensure that this fear doesn't negatively affect them. For many in this situation, every day without incident is truly a blessed day.
Ultimately our thoughts and prayers should be with all the people who were affected by this tragedy, but we should celebrate these astronauts' lives, which focused on their commitment to live each day to its fullest and on a refusal to allow themselves to live in fear over the dangers of their profession.
DANIEL REPOVZ
Oakland
Unbelievable outcome
In response to the Jan. 28 story "Boy's Shooting 'Justified': Coroner's Jury Says Police Acted Reasonably in 12-Year-Old's Death": Incredible. What can we expect next? Two grown men were chasing a 12-year-old boy (not extremely big for his age) with guns drawn, over a stolen car. I have heard many stories over the past couple of years, but this one truly belongs in the "Can you believe this?" category.
Even if you want to believe the troopers, my main concern is: Why were their guns drawn in the first place?
Another young black man is gone for no reason and it is ruled as being justified. These troopers were not in fear for their lives, and if they were, then they are in the wrong profession.
If this is the end of the story, then we all need to be in fear, because none of us is as safe as we think.
EARNEST ROBINSON
Penn Hills
Failure to obey
In regard to the article "Troopers Cleared in Killing of Boy: Fayette County DA Calls Shooting Lawful" (Feb. 1): Why is everyone looking to blame our overworked, overstressed and underpaid (in my view) police officers? If this young man had been home where he should have been, and not stealing a car, he'd be alive today.
Second, if the police tell you to stop, you should stop. I feel for Michael Ellerbe's family for their loss, but the officer truly felt he was in danger. Now he must live with his actions for the rest of his life, just because one child was not where he should have been.
Lay the blame where it belongs! This is not an issue of color but of obeying the law!
BOB MANNELLA
Ross
'Go' and computers
I read the Jan. 26 article "Kasparov vs. Computer: Is Chess Art or Math?" with great interest. I was, however, dismayed that it didn't mention WeiQi, or Go, as it is known more widely in the United States.
WeiQi has a great following in East Asia, with professional associations and tournaments with significant prize money. Until recently, there was a prize of about $1 million (U.S.) for the first computer to be able to beat a Chinese-Taipei WeiQi professional, yet the best artificial intelligence to date can barely keep up with a moderately strong WeiQi amateur player.
BENJAMIN TSAI
Oakland
Editor's note: The writer is vice president, Pittsburgh Go Association.
Others marvel at us
As president of the Hysterical Political Historical Society of Allegheny County, I deplore county Chief Executive Jim Roddey's effort to change our government.
Mr. Roddey doesn't seem to realize what a unique antique -- some might say antiquated -- structure of government we have. People in public administration across the country familiar with our row offices, including that of prothonotary (sometimes confused with the warbler), and our multiple municipalities marvel at our ability to maintain the status quo. We are even willing to pay increased taxes rather than give up an inch of sovereignty.
So, Mr. Roddey, if you want modern, efficient, cost-effective government, you will have to look elsewhere.
MARTHA B. PEREGO
Oakland
Count me among those who think Bush is out of control
At times George W. Bush seems to be acting like a despot rather than a president. He has alienated the United States from many once-friendly nations with his pugilistic name calling and his finger-pointing agenda. His administration has been secretive, manipulative, antagonistic and calumnious.
Witness the example of his trumpeted pronouncements describing his administration as one of integrity, compassion and honesty and yet firing Paul O'Neill as Treasury secretary and others who did not succumb to the dictatorial view of "my way or the highway."
Witness his code words -- if you're not against Iraq, you're not a friend of freedom -- or the most egregious spin: that we are not invading, we are liberating Iraq. Beg pardon?
Is President Bush's failure to find Osama bin Laden dead or alive so embarrassing to his ego that he literally is willing to sacrifice human lives and cause untold suffering and distress? Is Bush so far removed from society -- entrenched in his obsession with Saddam Hussein -- that he cannot understand the plight of far too many Americans who are hurting, badly, as a result of corporate theft, bankruptcies and lost jobs, savings, pensions, investments, health insurance and even home ownership?
Some say the events of 9/11 defined his presidency. Some, however, disagree and say it was Sept. 4, 2000. On that day during a campaign rally, a smiling George W. Bush, thinking he could not be heard, whispered into the ear of a consenting Dick Cheney that a New York Times reporter in the audience was a "major-league a--hole." That remark better defines his true character and presidency.
MARTY WEIXEL
McCandless
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