Dale Says

For more than 20 years I’ve been writing summaries of what’s going on in my life and in the world around me on my birthday. Here’s an excerpt from 1986 …

April 24, 1986

On my birthday I’m 35 years old.

The U.S. is still reeling from two recent events: the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger and the bombing of Libya.

Seven astronauts were killed on January 28 when a leak in one of the solid fuel boosters that were to propel the Challenger into space ignited the entire spacecraft and turned it into a fiery crematorium. While a presidentially-appointed task force continues to explore the cause, the U.S. space exploratioin effort is on hold.

The Libyan bombing incident last week was the Reagan administration’s reaction to a number of recent terrorist activities which Reagan says were tied to Momar Khadafy and the Libyan government. Those terrorist activities, in European airports and a West German night club, resulted in the loss of several American lives. The Reagan administration has taken a lot of abuse in this country for “doing nothing” to stop the terrorists, and the bombing of Libya was his reaction. While it has received general support in the U.S., many of the allied nations are troubled. Anti-American demonstrations in Germany, Italy, England, and Holland indicate particular discomfort with such an aggressive response. England is the hardest hit, as they are suffering from terrorist attacks for their part in the bombings (they allowed U.S. bombers to fly from British bases to attack Libya). Just where this latest incident will take the U.S. is anyone’s guess, but for this summer (at least) Americans are afraid to travel to Europe.

The price of oil has dropped dramatically around the world. OPEC couldn’t support low production and high prices and the bottom has fallen out of their price for oil. Currently, oil is selling for around $10 per barrel, and U.S. consumers are benefiting. Last week, I paid $.71 per gallon for regular gasoline. Lower prices have driven inflation down to the point that the U.S. actually saw a deflationary C.P.I. last month.

The U.S. and U.S.S.R. are barely on speaking terms, after a relatively successful summit between Reagan and Gorbachev last November. A second summit meeting may or may not take place in the U.S. this summer. Thus far, Reagan has done nothing to encourage friendly relations, and he continues underground nuclear testing and his plans for “Star Wars.”