Chronology Current Month Current Thread Current Date
[Year List] [Month List (current year)] [Date Index] [Thread Index] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Prev] [Date Next]

Re: [Phys-l] Anti-science (Was: Responding to a DJ about science)



I guess that the term "this kind of person" was self-referential. I would direct you to

http://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB123025595706634689.html

to dispel myths about GWB's "literacy". He certainly got tongue tied making off-the-cuff comments - but so do many presidents when not using a teleprompter.

Bob at PC

-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of John Clement
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 2:44 PM
To: 'Forum for Physics Educators'
Subject: [Phys-l] Anti-science (Was: Responding to a DJ about science)


The big problem is that the US has a history of anti-intellectualism, which
has grown stronger in certain ways. FDR was educated and talked like an
educated person, but now if you talk in an educated manner you are less
likely to be elected. The anti-science streak is just part of that general
trend. In the 50s we had a lot of optimism that science would solve all of
our problems, but that feeling is now gone, and many consider science to be
the enemy. This is a big contrast to many other countries where if you talk
in an uneducated fashion, you will never be elected. Obama is a throwback
because he uses very educated speech. Clinton used his Arkansas roots to
affect a folksy air, and Bush was plain illiterate or sometimes incoherent.
We also have a strong strain of public Puritanism which distrusts too much
education. In other countries they do not worry about mistresses, but
rather want a competent person. I was told by an Argentinean that a
mistress was mandatory for the Argentine president.

hysics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l