<p>Folks, let’s take a step back and breath for a minute…</p>
<p>This entire sordid incident will only put the space program, or the women within it or aspiring to it, back if the ignorant opportunists in society let it. As my fellow Ringknocker USNA1985 so eloquently stated, the behavior of one person should not tarnish the reputation of the rest. If that were the case, then the entire U.S. Government should be shut down immediately, along with Hollywood, Wall Street, every organized church in existence, and any organization with more than 2 people in it.</p>
<p>So this poor woman obviously went nuts. I can feel both pity and revulsion toward her, but I’m not going to paint, say, Sally Ride with that brush. Plenty of extremely intelligent and emminently qualified women have and will continue to go into space, as will Navy Captains and graduates of USNA, and Americans, and Humans.</p>
<p>As to CAPT Nowalk, while I still consider what she did to be perhaps the most STUPID thing ever done by an intelligent person (I guess being married, a mom, a Navy Captain, and a veteran active-duty astronaut wasn’t enough… Wha? ), the fact remains that the poor woman, for whatever reason, is obviously deranged. (So is the judge that let her out on bail, but that’s another thread for another forum.) She needs help, and believe me, I’m not one to feel sorry for criminals very often.</p>
<p>So let’s please try to keep the hyperbole and wild conclusions to a minimum. You know what happened today? A future astronaut woke up this morning at USNA and went to class as if nothing had happened. Life goes on.</p>
<p>Also, let’s cut USNA1985 some slack. She just happened to be in the same class as this person. That doesn’t mean she knows her or remembers her well or can provide some juicy insight. Lay off, please. For those who have never experienced it, news like this cuts deep when your class is involved whether you knew the person or not. It doesn’t help to have a bunch of strangers online (CC and SAF Family status notwithstanding) jumping all over you like e-papparazzi.</p>
<p>Zaphod out.</p>
<p>ETA: And before anyone asks, no, USNA1985 doesn’t need me to defend her. Sadly, however, my dad taught me in the old-fashioned ways, so I’m one of those who throws himself between a woman and the threat. Sue me.</p>
<p>Chivalry may be dying, but I’ll be damned before I let it die while I’m still breathing.</p>