Hal Bidlack's Columbia speech

[The Bad Astronomer]

I asked Linda and Randi if they could transcribe what Hal said when he announced at the meeting what had happened to the Shuttle. Linda sent it to me today. I kid Hal a lot, but this speech speaks to what kind of man he is.


I have been looking forward to meeting Dr. Shermer for a long time and unfortunately, that's spoiled. I want you to listen carefully to what I'm going to tell you. The space shuttle Columbia was lost a few minutes ago. At 200,000 feet over Texas, NASA lost contact and images from the ground show the shuttle breaking up and impact is reported north of Dallas.

Now listen to me. I'm a career military officer. This is a tragedy. But these people were doing exactly what they wanted to do, in exactly the place they wanted to be. When Dave Scott set foot on the moon on Apollo XV he said, "Man's fundamental nature is to explore, and this is exploration at its greatest." Gus Grissom gave an interview a week before the fire on Apollo I and he said, "if there's an accident, for God's sake, don't let it stop the program." This is a tragedy, but they understood, and that's what
we do in the military.

We're going to take an hour break. We've got TVs in the lobby. We're going to try to put a TV into this signal and of course you can go up to your rooms if you wish. And in an hour; let's call it 11:30, that's an hour and 15, we're going to continue the conference because I believe that it would be an insult to their memory to deny this audience the information that we want to give it. We can mourn, and we shall, but with dignity and grace, and remember that the space program is an amazing thing. I know astronauts. They were where they wanted to be. So please come back at 11:30.

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

I have made my Columbia comments in the "Big Thanks to Hal" thead, but this transcript represents just one of the many reasons why Hal was TAM's MVP.

Phil, despite the Anthony Edwards cracks, you were number two in my voting. Again, it was for many reasons, but what pulled you ahead of so many in the pack was your presentation on the Amazing Hoax. That presentation is exactly what is needed to demonstrate the chickanery involved in the rediculous claims of the moon hoaxers and such.

I personally had a lengthy interaction with a mildly psychotic individual reguarding a supposed NASA photo of Jesus in the Eagle Nebula. Pariolia (sic) being as interpretive as it is, I was able to find a pic of Mel Gibson in his Braveheart makeup that looked closer to the ill defined image in the gas clouds than traditional western concepts of Jesus' visage.

There were many highlights for me during TAM, having Hal and Phil there was just behind my meeting Girl6 and Luciana.

Which of course was 2nd to my drive up US 1 in my rented converitable on Monday... but that's for another post.

 

[Oso]

Thanks for the transcript Phil. I have expressed to several people about how eloquently Hal spoke. I realize now how inadequate I was when I tried to repeat what he said.

Hal, with your permission I would like to forward the 2nd paragraph to several friends, both civilian and military.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[hal bidlack]

as you wish. It was just off the top of my head, and I'm not sure it deserves all the nice words, but as you wish.

 

[kittynh]

thanks Phil!

I'm copying the comments Hal made to share with my friends. A lot of people have asked me what happened at the conference when we heard about the Columbia. I've tried to explain, but Hal's words really reflect what went on.

Thanks again to you too Hal.

 

[Shaun from Scotland]

Hal is the man. Erudite, level headed and a thoroughly nice bloke to boot.

"Gaun yersel big yin" as they say in Scotland......

 

[rikzilla]

as you wish. It was just off the top of my head, and I'm not sure it deserves all the nice words, but as you wish.

Hal,

Really...you were the right guy, in the right place, at the right time.

To have memorized Grissom and Scott shows off your love for the space program. If it had been me, I've walked up to that podium, made the announcement and just cried. You had words to replace the tears. That's your gift....you found the words.

Almost anyone else would have needed 2 hours to research and write to come up with anything half as good. You're the real thing Hal....I'm glad I know you.

-Rick