Ruth:
America is a democracy; founded on independence and free thinking -
right or wrong. There is no
fundamental difference between failing to listen to the facts about radiation and
the facts (or lack thereof) associated with any other hot political topic (take
your pick).
Happy Holidays.
-----Original Message-----
From: RuthWeiner@AOL.COM
[mailto:RuthWeiner@AOL.COM]
Sent: Monday, December 23, 2002
7:04 AM
To: sjd@swcp.com;
radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
Subject: Re: Dirty bombs(more on
the LNT)
We had an experience recently that sheds a new light on
public "radiophobia" or whatever one wants to call the prevalent
anti-nuclear sentiments. A clerk in a local bookstore, getting into a
very minor controversy about something nuclear, allowed as how "we were
entitled to our opinions and she was entitled to hers." In other
words, she, and I'm sure many others, think that being anti-nuke is purely a
matter of opinion or preference, like being a Democrat rather than a
Republican. A similar argument is made by "creationists."
This is not fear, or lack of trust, or lack of understanding. It is sort
of "I'll think what I want to think, regardless of external factual
evidence." I believe this is the battle we fight , just as Clarence
Darrow fought at the Tennessee "Monkey Trial" and much like the
battles fought over school integration.
I am somewhat at a loss as to how one addresses this, except by pointing otu
that adhering to an opinion that is contradicted by evidence is ultimately
cotnrary to the public welfare.
Ruth
Ruth
Weiner, Ph. D.
ruthweiner@aol.com