American Culture War

The recent resignation/termination of the president and vice president of National Public Radio (NPR) for their comments regarding Republicans, mainly Tea Partiers and evangelical Christians, brings into question a worrisome nonsense approach to the state of affairs of contemporary politics.

Why does speaking general truths have such dire consequences, whereas lying and subterfuge are acceptable forms of political stratagem?  This makes no sense.  Isn’t it a double standard to expect one group to be on the up and up while another group is using subterfuge to expose opponents? 

From the videotaped meeting regarding some of what the NPR Vice President said: “The current Republican Party, particularly the Tea Party, is fanatically involved in people’s personal lives and very fundamental Christian – I wouldn’t even call it Christian – it’s this weird Evangelical kind of move. The current Republican Party is not really the Republican Party, it’s been hijacked by this group – that is – the radical, racist, Islamophobic, tea party people. And not just Islamophobic but really xenophobic, I mean basically they are, they are, they believe in sort of white, middle-American gun-toting.  I mean, it’s scary.  They’re seriously racist, racist people.  … Now I’ll talk personally, as opposed to wearing my NPR hat, it feels to me as though there is a real anti-intellectual move on the part of a significant part of the Republican Party.  In my personal opinion, Liberals today might be more educated, fair and balanced than conservatives. … Well, to me, this is representative of the thing that I, I guess, I am most disturbed by and disappointed by in this country, which is that the educated, so-called elite in this country is too small a percentage of the population so that you have this very large uneducated part of the population that carries these ideas.  It’s much more about anti-intellectualism than it is about a politic[s]…”

Sure, there’s a problem with making sweeping statements about folks.  But NPR did not take a public stance in their comments; they were secretly recorded saying such comments in a back room meeting.  This goes on a lot in business, politics, et cetera.  In any event, what is wrong with calling something the way it is?  Wouldn’t most Tea Partiers agree they are conservative as opposed to liberal?  And what does “conservative” mean?   Wouldn’t many of these same folks agree they are also evangelical Christians, if they are?  Wouldn’t many of them be against intellectualism or science because it goes against the literal translation of the Bible?  And wouldn’t many of those same folks be against Islam and Muslims because of a fear that Islam would supplant Christianity in the U.S.A.?  While I don’t think all Republicans, Neo Conservatives and evangelical Christians are xenophobic, or racists, in my opinion, their being open to foreign ideas isn’t necessarily their strong point.  Would it serve their interests?  Why is it that evangelical Christians can promote their beliefs but if others (mainly liberals) define them as doing so – it’s wrong and offensive?  If evangelical Christians are going to live by “the Word,” and part of that is to proselytize, then don’t deny that is a basic motive.  If Neo Conservatives (of both parties) are interested in influencing our personal lives for whatever reasons: financial, health, law, politics, et cetera, then own up to it.  We’d all be a lot better off with speaking truths.  This whole finger pointing is juvenile and likely going to achieve nothing more than creating a deeper chasm in a burgeoning culture war.          

When we as Americans start attacking bedrock foundations such as Bert and Ernie and Sesame Street, there’s something worrisome about that.  Republicans claim that NPR should not be subsidized by tax payer money because it’s a liberal outlet, fine; but what about faith-based initiatives?  Should tax payers be subsidizing the proselytizing of Christian, or any other, religious beliefs?  Isn’t it a double standard to be against public financing for education while at the same time support subsidizing for religious endeavors?  What about separation of church and state?  Have we lost sight of why this is so important?  What about the Constitution, our Bill of Rights and our civil liberties?  Aren’t these important, too?       

What do you think?

Are religion and science compatible?

Credentialed does not necessarily equate with a broadened paradigm - an ability to understand our natural, fractal, multi-dimensional diverse environment. In my opinion, science and religion are professionally incompatible in a number of subjects: history, geology, archeology, biology, astronomy, et cetera. The former (science) observes fact whereas the latter (religion) suspends reason and makes a leap of faith, often rejecting fact. I think faith and spirituality have a place in their own right - under philosophy. I don’t believe human constructed myth to be reality, the “word” or law of an omnipotent higher power governing the universe. It’s a story, a creation myth, one of many. An astronomer needs to understand his or her actual environment, which requires the ability to look beyond the parameters inherent in a belief system. 

Do you think that science and religion are compatible?

Importance of Astronomy

After reading and enjoying the captivating artworks of William K. Hartmann, I was forever changed and, indeed, mesmerized by space science. I think the study of astronomy used to be more esoteric than it is today, but I'm still amazed by how many people don't know what our natural, fractal geometric environment (micro to macro) looks like, that we are a product of that, and where we are in the universe.  If folks would only recognize the grandeur of space for what it is, and how we are purely a product of it, I think society would be revolutionized.  Yes! We are originally borne of star dust! That all has to do with chemistry and supernovae.  But this concept also makes some folks uncomfortable because it may challenge some long held beliefs regarding origins.

In my opinion, the value of Astronomy is great and so important regarding intellectual and spiritual growth - for so many reasons. I’m really surprised it’s not taught more (if at all) in elementary or secondary education because to study astronomy encourages a broadening of paradigm, it compels one to think outside of the box, and challenges conventional “wisdom.” It encourages one to be dreamy and practical in the same breath - visionary, yet grounded - just what students need for a well-rounded education. In other words, astronomy encourages students to explore their environs and live in the question. And it also serves as a terrific springboard for a thirst for knowledge, because in order to grasp space science, one has to learn some other basic knowledge.

For example: philosophy - why is there something instead of nothing? What does it all mean, if anything? Where do we fit in? Anthropology – what did/do others think about all of this? Physics – how do/does particles/matter form and move? In waves? There are Multi-dimensions, too? Say what? Light travels at 186 thousand miles per second! So, a normal spiral galaxy is 150,000 light years across – now that puts things into perspective, namely spatial relationships. Chemistry – how does matter interact or react? What is matter made of? Atoms, electrons, protons, photons and other ons, all whizzing about and bumping each other up into outer shells! Why is a nebula blue as opposed to red – charged particles (stripping of electrons) as opposed to light reflection as from a distant violet star. We know what the atmosphere of a distant planet is made of because of emission lines in the electromagnetic spectrum? History/timelines - a quasar is 12 billion light years distant! And light travels at 186 thousand miles per second? Now that’s far out (!) and very old. Geomorphism/geology – the Earth used to be molten and its iron migrated inward to form a molten core? This gave us a magnetic field, too, and protects us from a solar wind, but not neutrinos! Explain. The Moon and Jupiter have been our “guardian angels?” Evolutionary biology – how did life form? A spark in a primordial inorganic soup? What are compounds?  Algebra, trigonometry, geometry, calculus – why did the Moon spiral out, away from Earth, instead of spiral inward, toward Earth? What’s a Roach limit? Vast distances of intergalactic space, not to be confused with interstellar space. We can send a satellite to Neptune via Jupiter? Yeah, sure, a sling shot effect, got ya. The Moon used to be so close that ocean tides were hundreds of feet high? Education/planning - What’s the future of our solar system? A Red Giant? Earth will be a glassy orb of obsidian in five billion years? Economics/environmental sustainability – mining on asteroids? Saving Earth's resources. Over population… Terraforming?

Black Holes, quantum mechanics, string theory, dark matter, et cetera.  There’s so much more that astronomy offers to an inquisitive mind.

Has astronomy impacted your life?