At this moment in 1969, one of the most remarkable achievements in human history happened. That the day is not a national moment and that many do not know or even care is a testament to the depths to which we have let our nation fall.
In the last decade science has suffered a prolonged and misguided attack by those who do not like the questions it asks, the findings it discovers, and by those who refuse to see the benefits to humanity despite the relative costs.
This is a picture of my two boys (Gonzo and Rooster) with a poster my father was given while working at Grumman (maker of the LM or Landing Module) and the Apollo project. This hangs proudly in their room over the bookshelf with books on science, history, and how things work. We need to be more supportive of science and the arts, not just the three R's, or else we will fall from grace by our ignorant hands.
*The squiggles on the poster are the signatures of all the folks at Grumman who had a hand in making the LM. The negatives went to the moon and back.
George,
ReplyDeleteThis is a short but very stimulating post, as it sent my mind in a hundred different directions on a Sunday morning.
I'm not quite sure what you meant by science being under attack by "those who do not like the questions it asks" or "the findings it discovers". I have some guesses as to what you may be talking about there, but I don't want to guess here, as I don't think that was the main drive of your post.
I think your point about education going beyond the three "r"s is a very good one. It got me thinking of a commentary on education written as satire in something titled "Screwtape Proposes a Toast", a follow up to the Screwtape Letters book.
It describes the problem with a mindset he describes as "I'm as good as you" especially in education. I am posting some of that in my blog (too long for this forum), it was written in 1959. Tell me if it hasn't come somewhat true. . .
http://marketexplosion.me/2013/07/21/george-tucker-meet-cs-lewis/
Thanks for the good words and inspired response!
ReplyDeleteI do not have a single set of 'those' who are disturbed by the process and reach of scientific inquiry. In sad fact there are too many. Some have haunted us over the ages, trash canning and forcing a form of solitary confinement on the likes of Galileo. Others have been rigid obstructionists demanding a recanting of the special theory of relativity simply because, 'a new model proves nothing'.
Science has a funny way of blowing up both mysticism and incorrect theorems in a single swipe of Occam's razor. Whenever I meet science at a party or over drinks at the bar, I often say to it - 'making friends everywhere you go I see.'
I will sum up with the great quote of Ms. Schrödinger "Good heavens Erwin whatever have you done with the cat?He looks half dead".