U.S. Mourns? Don’t Believe It. John Balzar captures exactly what has troubled me since Saturday’s accident. However, I’ve also wondered if some of the pathos of the reaction to the shuttle disaster isn’t just the diversion from the looming war weighing heavily on our collective psyche although not consciously acknowledged in many circles.

“The hype, not the accident, is what’s shocking. The disintegration of a space shuttle is a big story. But it’s not that big. We’re all moved by the death of astronauts, just not that moved. It’s a tragedy for sure. But …

Does it really warrant the preposterous questions we hear being asked?

Will President Bush have to rethink Iraq? Will he find it easier to bend Congress to his will for the sake of tax cuts? Are critics of the president once again unpatriotic? Has Bush displayed anew his remarkable leadership? Should humankind abandon the quest to explore our universe? Is everything different now? Blah, blah.” LA Times [via dangerousmeta]