From: mongiovg (mongiovg@STJOHNS.EDU)
Date: Wed Apr 30 2003 - 13:00:52 EDT
It's not really clear that Amit's strategy worked. A handful of exchanges on an electronic bulletin board hardly constitutes the triggering of a debate. I doubt whether he has changed the mind of the editor with whom he had the exchange (whose side of it he circulated without explicit permission, by the way). I suppose if I were in the editor's shoes, I'd be irritated at being tarred with Amit's collective-guilt brush: for all we or Amit knows, the editor & the entire editorial board of the journal in question might be passionately anti-war and anti-Bush. Perhaps there is something going on at some physics lists. I have no idea how (or even whether) most physicists think about the nexus between ideology & science. But if the dominant reaction among Amit's peers is that his attitude constitutes an inappropriate politicization of science, then his stance is counterproductive. Gary >===== Original Message From gerald_a_levy <gerald_a_levy@MSN.COM> ===== >Gary wrote on Wednesday, April 30, 2003: > >> I'm curious what others think on this matter. > >I'm not convinced that it was the best move tactically, but >Daniel Amit's individual action has been largely successful >since we and others are talking about the underlying issues >(including the role of scientists and academics in the US and >UK and whether they share any of the moral responsibility >for the ends that their creations have been put to by the >military establishment in the US and UK). From the outset, >it has been clear that Daniel Amit sought to publicize this matter >(see below) and stir debate. It worked. > >In solidarity, Jerry > >> PS I intend to distribute our exchange as much as possible. >> I authorize and Pray that you do the same.
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