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Old September 10th 03, 09:32 PM
SA Sam Thigpen
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Default Same attitude at the International Space University [was Cause of Columbia Shuttle Disaster.]

"HAESSIG Frédéric Pierre Tamatoa" wrote in message ...
SA Sam Thigpen a écrit dans le message :
...
(George William Herbert) wrote in message
...
SA Sam Thigpen wrote:
[...]
I spent 7 months this year at the International Space University
dealing with the same insanity. Why is it the front page of the New
York Times and nearly every other newspaper and magazine notes the
obvious flaws in these organizations, yet they themselves are so blind
to it?

Maybe it's because all these groups were founded by a bunch of Nazis
lead by another bunch of fascists that have created enough destructive
weapons to eliminate our species many times over.

If I am reading what you wrote correctly, you have
just accused the founders of ISU of being fascists
and Nazis, as well as NASA.


Is that what you really meant to say, or did you just
phrase that badly?


Do you know who actually founded ISU?


I was not the refering the founders, and I am not refering to Clarke
either, who is the Chancellor of ISU, though you wouldn't ever guess
it judging from the mentality of the program towards ideas he applauds
(like new energy).

The school was founded over 15 years ago; I'd imagine a lot of this
was done in the spirit of glasnost, et al, which was just starting up,
...and they all seemed to be doing a cool thing in the name of
American entrepreneurship....

[...]
You seem to have had a very different experience of ISU that I had in 95-96.
Was it really that awful?

One of the thing I appreciated the most was how flexible the faculty was and
how willing to listen to our input. What exactly did happen to give you such
a bed view of ISU?


A lot has changed for the worse since '95-'96. That was around the
time when ARPA was canned (though now resurrected in freeware form
as SDF). Today there is little money for the space explorer without
getting mired in a system of war and fear.

I first went to ISU during '00-'01 while the United States was
experiencing a Coup d'Etat. The whole thing was so bad I had to drop
out. After realizing I wasn't going to get my 18kUSD back (I guess
no refunds is another Libertarian concept, unlike freedom of
speech) I decided to go back, mainly to use the facilities and to
get the word out when possible. The environment I experienced
was even worse than before. After sparking a debate about the
Columbia tragedy, I had students telling me what I could or
could not write in my emails. Gee, where have I heard that one
before?

I am not saying all is lost, the war is becoming more and more
unpopular in the US, there is an election around the corner, etc.

Peace,
Sam Thigpen

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SA Thigpen KL1FE
http://sthigpen.freeshell.org
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