# We are happy \[the Space Shuttle\] broke up." **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 1, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148 "2003-02-01T19:45:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/81 "2003-02-02T01:09:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Xploder \* > \*\* > I simply think, AND BELIEVE that if you’re an American then you should support your President REGARDLESS if you agree with him or not. \*\* You’ve GOT to be kidding right? Do we then extend the same ethos towards Iraqis? Should all citizens of all countries blindly follow their leader even if said leader is a nut-job? No thanks…I’ll reserve my democratic right to protest against decisions made by my national leader if I do not agree with them. ---
**Author:** ![Xploder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a183cd/32.png) [@Xploder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xploder)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/82 "2003-02-02T01:11:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by techchick68 \* > \*\*Well, with the vitrol you spewed, I could only read one thing you being the moron…At least **elucidator** used some tact in his/her response, unlike you. I also understood that **Xploder** has had a rough go of it today. > > Get those panties out of your ass, that’s gotta be very uncomfortable. \*\* Ya know…I like you Techie 🙂 For some reason, you remind me of me…now…to NOT hijack this FASCINATING conversation anymore, I’m totally fucking done with this bullshit. I’ve had enough shit on my plate lately to last me a fucking lifetime thankyouverymuch. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/83 "2003-02-02T01:13:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by milroyj \* > \*\*“Jesus Christ people act as though arabs and muslims have just always been these hatemongering warlords bent on destroying good honest white people.” > > Why did you bring race into this discussion? It wouldn’t be because you are anti-white, would it? \*\* I am white dumbass. Erek ---
**Author:** ![Xploder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a183cd/32.png) [@Xploder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xploder)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/84 "2003-02-02T01:14:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kambuckta \* > \*\*You’ve GOT to be kidding right? Do we then extend the same ethos towards Iraqis? Should all citizens of all countries blindly follow their leader even if said leader is a nut-job? > > No thanks…I’ll reserve my democratic right to protest against decisions made by my national leader if I do not agree with them. \*\* Look, and sorry to ignore my last post, what I **meant** was that you should follow your **own** countries leadership according to past history as in WWII and whatnot… My apologies if your **Australian** brain didn’t get that… ---
**Author:** ![Xploder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a183cd/32.png) [@Xploder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xploder)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/85 "2003-02-02T01:16:01Z")
Also…please excuse my totally fucked up coding…sigh…I’ve been awake now for close to 20 hours… ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/86 "2003-02-02T01:16:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mswas \* > \*\*I am white dumbass. > > Erek \*\* No, you’re a racist, bigoted, stupid fuck, asshole. You can’t have it both ways. Blaming Arabs/Muslims bad, blaming Americans/Whites, Ok. Does not compute. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/87 "2003-02-02T01:17:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*No no no, **mswas** , and your ilk, fuck YOU. Fuck you for your unending ability to apologize for the barbarity of others, all the while failing to show where Americans gather in the streets and cheer when there are earthquakes in Afghanistan or Iraq. > The arabs/muslims do **not** have “legitimate fucking reasons for hating us”, and neither do dipfucks like you. > > That fact is people like you (And the Iraqis who are now thrilled, and the Palestineans who cheered 9-11) blame the US for everything, since you are too small-brained to actually examine the root problems involved. Only in your pea-sized brain do Iraqis have more of a reason to hate us, rather then Saddam. > > Live in a dictatorship? Blame America! Said dictatorship is soon to be removed? Why, blame America! America gives roughly equal amounts of foreign aid to Egypt and Israel? Blame America for propping up the Zionists! > > Fuck you **mswas**. \*\* Please, do me a favor and read up on the history that is so readily available at your fingertips. America has been fucking those people for 50 years. It’s the basic truth. I don’t hate America, I hate the face that so many Americans won’t own up to the fact that we actually fuck people over in the Middle-east. You act as though they were born barbarians and just hate us, just because. I suppose the cursing was out of line, but every once in a while it just gets to me that Americans find it so hard to believe that there are legitimate grievances, and that these people truly feel they have no recourse but to fly a plane into buildings in order to be heard by us. Erek ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/88 "2003-02-02T01:17:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by milroyj \* > \*\*No, actually, I’m fucking serious. Show me one news story about Americans celebrating Iraqi deaths. Or one picture of Americans dancing in the streets about Muslim deaths, like some Palestinians did after 9/11. Show me one photo of Americans burning Iraqi or Iranian flags, chanting Death to Iraq/Iran. Show me one. \*\* Don’t pretend Americans always take the high road, Milroyj. Of course there are Americans burning Iraqi flags. If you think there aren’t, you’re fooling yourself. [Americans burning Iranian Flags](http://rescueattempt.tripod.com/hostagerescueattempt/id9.html) There’s one. 6th picture down. Now shut up and stop acting so fucking shocked that we’re not any better. We’re not. We just don’t publicize that we have assholes who burn other countries’ flags. We’re much better at feigning shock that someone would burn our flag, or gloat over our misfortunes. PS, **Zoe** , brilliant post. I was thinking the same thing. How could an “atheist” dislike something that they believe doesn’t even exist. I guess “Atheist” just sounds more shocking and self-important than “non-religious”. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/89 "2003-02-02T01:20:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Xploder \* > \*\*Look, and sorry to ignore my last post, what I **meant** was that you should follow your **own** countries leadership according to past history as in WWII and whatnot… > > My apologies if your **Australian** brain didn’t get that… \*\* And I’ll say again that I am NOT going to follow my own country’s leadership if I disagree with the decisions made. I will protest and demonstrate and try to bring about a reversal of such decisions. _My_ apologies if your **American** brain didn’t get _that_. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/90 "2003-02-02T01:23:18Z")
milroyj: The logic missing in that post is astounding. Somehow, me saying that Americans should accept the responsibility for our foreign policy is a racist idea? Please explain to me how that works. And yes, I am actually white. Erek ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/91 "2003-02-02T01:25:19Z")
milroyj: Oh yeah, and when did American become a race? Erek ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/92 "2003-02-02T01:26:08Z")
A cite from 1980, 23 freaking years ago, is relevant how? ---
**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/93 "2003-02-02T01:26:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*We act like arabs/muslims don’t have legitimate fucking reasons for hating us. The truth is, it’s all legitimate. \*\* And there you have it. From the person who accused _Americans_ of promoting ignorance. In my more emotional moments, I almost wish my country would stop every humanitarian activity, and ever dollar it donates, to every nation on earth, for one month. So people like you can be exposed for the idiots that you are, and all the America-bashers out there can re-think their “Evil Empire” tripe. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/94 "2003-02-02T01:32:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Milossarian \* > > * * * > > In my more emotional moments, I almost wish my country would stop every humanitarian activity, and ever dollar it donates, to every nation on earth, for one month. So people like you can be exposed for the idiots that you are, and all the America-bashers out there can re-think their “Evil Empire” tripe. \*\* Actually, as y’know, there are people who advocate doing just that… Over on GD, **RexDart** has quotes that have convinced him that most, if not all, Arab terrorism would cease entirely if the US were to stop supporting Israel tomorrow… Needless to say, I’m looking forward to him digging up this cite… ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/95 "2003-02-02T01:32:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mswas \* > \*\*And yes, I am actually white. Erek \*\* Who gives a flying fuck? You are the one who is trying to legitimize hate based on nationality. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/96 "2003-02-02T01:34:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by milroyj \* > \*\*A cite from 1980, 23 freaking years ago, is relevant how? \*\* when you demanded “Show me **one picture** of Americans burning Iraqi or Iranian flags”. they did. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/97 "2003-02-02T01:38:17Z")
Milossarian: So you’re saying that our middle east foreign policy is 100% humanitarian? Jesus Christ how ignorant can you be? And I am so tired of being called an anti-American for my beliefs. I don’t believe America should fall, I rather like America, I just don’t think we have the right to push people around the way we do. That doesn’t mean I don’t believe that my country isn’t the best one, which in fact I do, I think America is fucking awesome, I love it here. The truth is America has had a policy of destabilization since the end of World War II, originally to fight the Soviets, and later because our dependence upon middle eastern oil has increased substantially, and we don’t want any of those countries to be independent of us. How is that idea anti-American? that’s just commenting on our policy and disagreeing with it. I don’t see ANYWHERE within that statement that I wished America would withdraw completely from world affairs, or that I wish America would fall, or that I think we are the evil empire, or the great satan. All I said is that our foreign policy has become untenable in the middle east and I think that it’s high time we accepted the responsibility for those actions and started to change them. Stopping terrorism won’t happen by dropping bombs, it will happen by making them believe that we aren’t out there to fuck them. I seriously don’t believe that anti-American sentiment is as great as most people would have us think, but I do believe that we need to change our foreign policy to reflect a more global view, and to recognize that if we are going to rule over them, then we should view them as constituents to a degree, people deserving of a voice within the world government that WE have created. How that is anti-American, I will never know. But if it’s un-American to say that I don’t think Muslims are evil and hate us for our way of life and for no other reason, then I guess I’m just gearing up to take out the great satan. Erek ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/98 "2003-02-02T01:39:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by milroyj \* > \*\*Who gives a flying fuck? You are the one who is trying to legitimize hate based on nationality. \*\* **milroyj** , you are the one who maintains that ALL Iraqis hate Americans and rejoice in her misfortunes, while NO American would ever stoop to such lows. Through such blatant ignorance, it is you attempting to legitimise hatred. Pot/kettle and all of that perhaps?? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/99 "2003-02-02T01:41:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by milroyj \* > \*\*Who gives a flying fuck? You are the one who is trying to legitimize hate based on nationality. \*\* No I am not trying to legitimize hate, but I am saying that it’s time we took responsibility for our foreign policy, and accept that maybe they hate us for a reason and that reason isn’t just a difference in ideology. I never said people dancing in the streets when the Columbia exploded was appropriate, but acting as though Americans don’t do similar things is silly at best. There were Americans out murdering people of middle eastern decent after 9/11. I heard people advocating nuking Afghanistan, I mean Jesus Christ, why would you advocate a nuke? In this thread I heard some comment to the effect of “we’ll see how much they’ll be celebrating in a few weeks.”, that’s the same sentiment if not the same action, and in this case, the sentiment is much more important than how you portray it. Erek ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148/100 "2003-02-02T01:42:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gobear \* > \*\*R-i-i-i-i-i-g-ht! If you can find any Arabs mourning the death of Ilan Ramon, I will fellate Dick Cheney. \*\* Is Yasser Arafat Arab enough for you? I hope Cheney showered this morning. Happy sucking. Not to single you out completely, **gobear** , but these “All Arabs Hate Americans”-shit pisses me off. Firstly, it’s not true. Secondly, even though large anti-American sentiments can be found in many countries in the Middle East, they always appear in nations that are under (semi) dictatorial regimes, with media systems to match. You can’t compare the opinion of the average Iraqi to that of the average American, for the simple reason that the Iraqi has been fed pure spin and propaganda all his life, whereas the American has been able to choose his news sources and leaders freely. Well, at least the American will see _less_ propaganda than the Iraqi. I’m not going to suggest the main US news sources are up to my standards of impartiality. In any case, generalisations like the ones above don’t make you look like the American that chose his sources wisely, and came up with a balanced opinion. It makes you look like you’re foaming at the mouth whenever the word “Arab” or “Middle East” crosses your eye. Not a whole lot better than an Iraqi car mechanic cheering for the loss of the Shuttle, actually. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-happy-the-space-shuttle-broke-up/152148.md?page=6)