Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.
- President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Tenzing Norgay

He should be remembered more prominently than what he is.

So, the other two Mount Hood climbers are almost certainly dead. This is a tragedy, and I do not wish to offend or besmirch the climber's memories, or hurt their families any more than they are already. However, I feel as though I must say this.

This tragedy... was pointless. The Miners that died last year faced danger every day to keep America's lights on. They toiled in the cold and dark to keep their families fed. Theirs... is a tragedy to remind ourselves of what it means to be willing to face danger to help others. The Mount Hood climbers were none of those things.

The three men were climbing Mount Hood to prove that they could do it, and nothing more. Their deaths are sad, tragic... and pointless. I will pray for their families, but I am angry at their willingness to put themselves in danger... for fun.

When you have children and wives, you give up your right to face danger for the hell of it.

4 comments:

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater said...

I couldn't agree more. Some kind of higher power gave us the gift of life to enjoy and explore the world as we know it, not to irresponsibly risk it for our jollies.

Cindy-Lou said...

I don't pray for anybody.

I'm Scooter, but I might be a troll. said...

Uh... Ok, Cindy.

Cindy-Lou said...

What? I don't. Not even for myself.