[Peace-discuss] But I'm a Cheerleader!

[Morton K. Brussel]

A few remarks:

Perhaps, Laurie, you should define "cheerleading". If it means advocating forcefully and loudly, Is that necessarily bad in your opinion? The rest of your first sentence (below) —"can be (and often is) regressive and conservative"—  is indisputable, neither here nor there.

Your view of what goes on in the physical sciences (especially) seems distorted. Is all the progress made (in the health sciences, in material sciences, in electronic and communication sciences, in earth, environmental and ecological science) in the past 150 years, and especially since WWII,  just  a promotion for capitalist profits? You fail to acknowledge that most discoveries in science and technology are multifac(ete)d, with consequences possibly both benign and malign. Think of all that has developed from the invention of the transistor and solid state electronics. Even the DOD supports research which is neutral (in an effort to keep the scientific community going), and the NSF and the NIH even more so. That DOD or the DOE have their own malignant interests is undeniable, but is often beside the point. Such agencies support astrophysics, particle physics, nuclear physics (not all bad!), and more. That criticisms of aspects of corporate and government support for science and tenchnology are necessary, and that more enlightened agencies and administrations are highly desirable is something to be fought for. 

That scientists often support government policies, for fear that they may lose support for their activities (and their paychecks), or because they even believe in "the system", is undeniable, but this ought not to be used as a global condemnation of all that science and technology does and has done.  Scientists often oppose government policies as well, as I well know by listening in to an extensive email discussion list from Argonned National laboratory.

In other words, I think that you ought to broaden your already broad perspective. 

--Mort


On Aug 11, 2011, at 11:30 PM, Laurie Solomon wrote:
> 
> Of course, cheerleading for any established belief systems and/or institutions can be (and often is) regressive and conservative; and it is not only the social sciences (or as you call them the ideological disciplines) that are overwhelmingly servants of power.  One only has to take a look at the natural sciences and engineering disciplines and their academic and contract research activities in the development of technologies that advance weaponry, spying, governmental control, and the promotion of capitalist profits.  One only has to look at the sorts of testimony that natural scientists and engineers  has furnished in official hearings to support the goals of the establishment powers and authorities.  The arts are not completely free from the same sort of criticism either; they often are also cheerleaders for the establishment and servants of power.
> 

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