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RE: Dirty bombs(more on the LNT)



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