Peter Blake, the yachtsman from New Zeland who had won the world cup as recently as 2000 was killed by a gang of robbers at the mouth of the amazon river yesterday. (see MSNBC sports). I found it interesting that in this post-Christian era a legislature would, as a whole, sing "How Great Thou Art"

Wonder if it could ever happen in the US again. My estimation of the NZ populace as edged up.

"In Parliament in Wellington, lawmakers observed a moment of silence for Blake, then joined in singing the hymn "How Great Thou Art" in the indigenous Maori language"

-- charles (cr@dixienet.com), December 08, 2001

Answers

I never thought I'd hear congress singing "God Bless America" on the Capitol steps, either. It seems to me whenever we are shaken to our boots, then our real selves come out. Political correctness goes right out the window.

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), December 08, 2001.

I heard about Mr. Blakes Death on the Radio. My husband, an amature sailor, said he was a really great guy-quite an enviromentialist I believe. I never in a million years would have thought members of our Congress would gather together to sing "God Bless America". That affected me quite a bit.

-- Kelly (Ksaderholm@yahoo.com), December 08, 2001.