Last week our nation stopped to pay tribute to the seven astronauts. NBCs coverage included close-up camera work of grieving relatives, which I felt took away their privacy, but I realize that these people are in the public eye.

What was even more infuriating was Tom Brokaw talking about Saddam Hussein’s meeting with a British peace activist while President Bush and his wife were being escorted to their motorcade at the end of the services. Why couldn’t comments about Iraq be left for the 6:30 p.m. news instead of infringing on the solemn events at the Johnson Space Center?

Terry Wade

Pinehurst