Re: WashPost OpEd

["Stanley E. Logan" <selogan@rt66.com>]

Yesterday, agreeing completely with Ted, I sent the following letter to the 

Washington Post:



Dear Editor:



The OpEd:"Radiation Chicken Little" by Theodore Rockwell (Washington Post 

Sep. 16) reveals how scare operatives among officials and the media do a 

public disservice.  The often repeated myths about radiation hazards cause 

many in the public to cry "the sky is falling" at the mere mention of 

"radiation" or "nuclear."  The greatest threat from a terrorist incident, 

whether occurring or merely threatened, involving nuclear materials or a 

nuclear facility, is the possible panic by a misinformed public, rather 

than the direct consequences of the incident itself.  The truth is that 

low-levels of radiation exposure pose no hazard to the public.  Any 

dispersed radioactive materials are readily found and controlled using 

detectors, contrary to the need for taking and testing laboratory samples 

to define the result of an attack with biological agents.  Rockwell makes a 

strong case for educated realistic evaluation of risks and emergency planning.



Stanley E. Logan

Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA







At 10:52 AM 9/18/2003 -0400, Ted Rockwell wrote:

>Friends:

>

>I got a lot of attaboys for my WashPost piece, for which I am most grateful.

>But a public statement like that, if ignored, disappears from memory like

>the morning mist.

>

>To keep the issue alive, the easier course is to write a two- or

>three-sentence letter to the editor, supporting the statement.  The easiest

>way to do that is to email it to:

>

>letters@washpost.com

>

>Several of those might get us another day's play in the Post.

>

>Thanks.

>

>Ted Rockwell: