Israeli astronaut pride of a nation

The Daily Telegraph ^ | February 1, 2003 | The Daily Telegraph

[MadIvan]

Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli national in space, was " fulfilling everyone's dream, to be the first Israeli in space," according to Israel's Channel Two.

Ilan Ramon

His father was at the television studio as the country waited for touch-down, with a live broadcast from Cape Canaveral. Ramon was 48, an air forced colonel with considerable flight experience. He was the son of a holocaust survivor.

He has served during the Yom Kippur war in 1973, and in Lebanon in 1982. He was involved in the destruction of an unfinished Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981.

Ramon had been preparing to join a shuttle mission since 1997, and joined Columbia as a payload specialist. He was conducting research on how desert dust and over contaminants in the atmosphere effected rainfall and temperature.

The nation as a whole had followed the progress of the mission, and felt a great deal of pride in Ramon. Tom Segev, the Israeli author, said last month: "It's a distraction from the feeling that this country is in really bad shape, the feeling of desperation, of helplessness, confusion, anger and fear."

[MadIvan]

I will post more from the UK press, as and when I get it.

Please accept condolences on behalf of the UK.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Poohbah]

The Islamonuts would be better served not crowing about this.

We might get a touch irate.

[MadIvan]

We might get a touch irate.

I'm not Jewish; however if they celebrate the death of this war hero as well as all the other heroes in the shuttle, my temper will explode.

I am out of patience with the Muslim world.

Regards, Ivan

[LibKill]

Please accept condolences on behalf of the UK.

Thanks, Ivan. It is a bad day, but you give a little light in this darkness.

[Poohbah]

Please accept condolences on behalf of the UK.

Condolences gratefully accepted.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them.

[MadIvan]

From the UK Times - Breaking News:

Party leaders express sympathy

Prime Minister Tony Blair has written to President Bush and his Israeli counterpart Ariel Sharon "to express the Government's sympathy and express his condolences after the death of the courageous astronauts," says Downing Street. And Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith sent his "deepest sympathies to the families", Conservative Central Office said. Mr Duncan Smith also said: "Our thoughts and prayers are tonight with the American and Israeli people at this time of great sadness." The Tory leader was writing to the respective Embassies in London, a spokesman added. Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said: "I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to the families of all seven of the skilled and courageous astronauts."

Regards, Ivan

[nevergore]

Thanks for the sympathies and condolences.....

Britian's ( and it's people) have been a great friend and ally of the United States......

The Islamic world is already rejocing in the streets....Word from Baghdad is that the consider this "Allah's revenge"......

So typical and so expected...

Our hero's die trying to advance mankind and liberate humanity, their hero's die blowing up school busses, women and children...

NeverGore

[MadIvan]

Our hero's die trying to advance mankind and liberate humanity, their hero's die blowing up school busses, women and children...

Stand steadfast and true - we are going to get to those "broad, sunlit uplands" that Churchill described - we just have to deal with the forces which threaten us. It shows the calibre of our enemy that they would celebrate the death of those in the service of science; not those actually engaged in combat, but those working on experiments to advance civilisation's knowledge.

They represent the darkness - all that is brutal, evil and mendacious in humanity. They turn from thought to dogma, they turn from compassion to terrorism, they turn from the truth to lies. Accounts will be settled; the will, though diminished by time and decadence, still remains and as such good in the end will prevail.

Regards, Ivan

[OldFriend]

Thanks for sharing your feelings......it helps to know that not all the world hates the Israeli's. Some folks seem to forget the tremendous difference in philosophy between the Israeli and arab mind.

[Miss Marple]

Thank you, Ivan. I have been on the road most of the day, listening on the radio. I did hear and watch the President's speech at my son's home.

Sad days for the US, but we will carry on. Words of sympathy from your nation are much appreciated.

[valkyrieanne]

Magnified and sanctified be His great Name in the world which He created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom during your life and during your days, and during the life of all the house of Israel, speedily and in the near future, and say Amen. May His great name be blessed forever and ever. Blessed, praised and glorified, exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, Blessed be He; Who is beyond all blessings and hymns, praises and songs that are uttered in the world; and say Amen. May there be abundant peace from heavan, and life for us and for all Israel; and say Amen. May He who maketh peace in the heavens, make peace for us and for all Israel; and say Amen.
(the Kaddish, English translation of the Aramaic.)

[Mo1]

Thanks for this thread Ivan .. it is a sad day for all

[mseltzer]

Thanks Ivan, as always.

Mike

[homeschool mama]

Beautiful. Thank you.

[nicmarlo]

Thank you, MadIvan, for expressing your condolences as our country faces yet, another, tragedy; our President certainly has had much on his plate.....as have the Israelis, to whom I also offer my condolences.

[ellery]

Thank you, and bless you Ivan. Bless these heroes and their families.

[Consort]

[MadIvan]

It's going to be all right. I don't think God has turned His back on Britain or America with piling disaster on top of disaster. I do think, however, He is testing our will.

Regards, Ivan

[thatdewd]

BTTT.