[Phys-L] Re: OT FISA and Fishing Expeditions from NSA

[Jack Uretsky <jlu@HEP.ANL.GOV>]

Hi all-
        I, of course, totally agree with David.  Let's absorb the lesson,
which applies also to science:
        The next alarmist story that comes rolling down the pike (or the
next story that seems to radically change our scientific view), the first
reaction needs to be, "Is it true?"  All too often the reaction is "Ain't
it awful?" or, in the scientific case, "Let's spread this marvelous story
to the masses!"
                        Regards,
                                Jack

On Sat, 24 Dec 2005, David T. Marx wrote:

> This is totally ridiculous!  Talk about nuclear weapons and terrorism all you want without fear.
> Talk of anything political you want without fear.   I am not afraid of being questioned.  Why
> should you?  Let not your heart be troubled.  Have your students study whatever you like, within
> reason, of course.
>
> Cheers.
>
> > Are we being monitored?  Could mention of nuclear weapons on this list
> > trigger investigations.  What if you assigned some student research on the
> > feasibility of a terrorist construction of a nuclear weapon, what would
> > happen?  Are they also monitoring political activities and opinions because
> > they do not agree with us?  So far there has been no effect on physics
> > education, but there could be an effect.
> >
> > One way to prevent terrorism by our own citizens is to promote critical
> > thinking.  At present the reformed physics teaching methods are doing this.
> > OTOH this would also promote divergent political opinions as students
> > question what they have been told.  Could reformed physics instruction be
> > billed as an anti-terrorist program because it produces students who
> > question all assumptions?  This might even mean $$$ for more PER research.
> >
> > Essentially I see the current climate as one which is possibly headed toward
> > the McCarty era thinking in which physics teachers are not safer than
> > history teachers.  Discussion of this possibility and then reasoned
> > political action may head this off.  So, NO, it is not physics per se, but
> > it certainly affects what we might wish to do in the future.  It is also
> > part of the current anti-science attitude promoted by many current
> > politicians.
> >
> > John M. Clement
> > Houston, TX
> >
> > > Way OT! Simple political diatribe. Relation to Physics? :-(
> > >
> > > Merry Christmas anyway!

--
"Trust me.  I have a lot of experience at this."
                General Custer's unremembered message to his men,
                just before leading them into the Little Big Horn Valley
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