RE: Radiophobia wins again

[Steven Dapra <sjd@swcp.com>]

Jan. 23



	Bill Lipton wrote:



	"Are you saying that medical care should be denied to those who don't hold

the 'right' political views?" 



	This was said in reply to Franta, Jaroslav, who wrote: 

  

	"Another thing that might conceivably be done to address "The anti's cheer

and dance" is to refuse them any sort of nuclear medicine -- after all,

they don't want anything nuclear."



	As usual, Bill has managed to twist everything around.  Whether or not

nuclear materials -- waste, medical isotopes, fuel rods, etc. -- are safe

is a scientific matter, NOT a political view.  It's been made into a

political hot potato, but it shouldn't be.  (And don't give me any of that

hokum about 'perception is reality.')



	If the anti-nukers are so deathly afraid of things radioactive, it is

perfectly logical to refuse them nuclear medicine.  This analogy probably

isn't perfect, but for example:  if a child were deathly afraid of a

certain animal, would you get the child that animal for a pet?  If it were

not an animal suitable to be a pet, would you take the child to the zoo and

force him to stand outside the cage and look at the animal?  



	One might try to reason with the child and show him in various ways that

the animal is harmless.  The problem is, anti-nukers are worse than this

hypothetical child, because you can't reason with an anti-nuker.



Steven Dapra

sjd@swcp.com











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