‘First’ in Space
In all the media coverage of this latest recent space shuttle flight, I have yet to come across any reference to the fact that one of the crew members, Ellison Onizuka, is the first American of Japanese (or any Asian) ancestry in space.
Granted, the shuttle’s controversial military cargo drew attention away from the astronauts. But considering the considerable fuss made over the first black American and the first American woman in space during earlier flights, I can’t help but feel that some kind of double standard is being imposed.
J.K. YAMAMOTO
Los Angeles
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