A study recently taken shows that, once again, we hate something to do with science. I was dubious about this. Perhaps they had to have interviewed some of my family members, because we as a nation really, we can't be this stupid. Why, please someone explain to me why, we have to be the Cletus Spuckler of the world?
America, what has become of you? We used to be known for some sort of scientific achievement. Back in the day, it was wonderment of what science will bring. The marvels of the space race, new gadgets being born from the drawing boards from Detroit to Silicon Valley But today, it is wonderment on what new stupid superstitious nonsense we are willing to believe in. They need to do a sequel to "Whats Wrong With Kansas" with a new more apropos title, "America, what the hell is wrong with you people?!?"
A week ago I was reading how this troglodyte from Kentucky was making an ass of himself (and indirectly us) by spreading this Creationism nonsense. This upset me to no end. It shouldn't and perhaps I need new blood pressure medicine. But can one not be tired of America made to look like some backwards revivalist "gotta live in the past" country dominated by a conservative ideological quality akin to a sleazy flea market?!
Now I read that the American Association for the Advancement of Science showed off a studythat basically said that that Kentucky fried Creationist may not be alone! The study focused on the general attitudes of Americans to science. On one particular field, Nanotechnology, it said that we found it to be "morally unacceptable."
Religion Colors Americans' Views Of Nanotechnology
ScienceDaily (Feb. 17, 2008) — Is nanotechnology morally acceptable? For a significant percentage of Americans, the answer is no, according to a recent survey of Americans' attitudes about the science of the very small.
Addressing scientists Feb. 15, 2008 at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Dietram Scheufele, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of life sciences communication, presented new survey results that show religion exerts far more influence on public views of technology in the United States than in Europe.
"Our data show a much lower percentage of people who agree that nanotechnology is morally acceptable in the U.S. than in Europe," says Scheufele, an expert on public opinion and science and technology.
Personally, I believe in a God, but don't know who or what God is. I'm more of a spiritualist, but that's me and I don't believe in imposing this on anyone. Who the hell am I to even consider that? Many don't believe, but that's fine with me. Who are we to dictate someone's belief or disbelief. Also, someone's beliefs should not endanger the rest of us! This is what gets me the most about religion. You believe in X, therefore you must make sure that I must comply with this. If X means a loss in the quality of life for the rest of the commons, so be it in these theocrats' minds! But the rest of us, should not be made to suffer. There has to be a wall between religious beliefs and the good of the public at large.
Nanotechnology isn't evil. It isn't dangerous (well not yet at least)to humankind. Want to know what's dangerous? Snake handling, I've personally seen some Christian religious acts involving snakes. Now you tell me, which is more dangerous? Utilizing microscopes and precision equipment to make micro machines or touching venomous cobras?
The answer, Scheufele believes, is religion: "The United States is a country where religion plays an important role in peoples' lives. The importance of religion in these different countries that shows up in data set after data set parallels exactly the differences we're seeing in terms of moral views. European countries have a much more secular perspective."
- excerpt from Religion Colors Americans' Views Of Nanotechnology
Secularism is more American, I dare say, than anything idiots like Pat Robertson would spew. Thomas Jefferson was skeptical of the madness that can eminate from the religious pulpit. And it is these superstitious tenets that has held back the developments of science in regards to medicine. Humanity has been held back for far too long because of the delusions of grandeur by so-called authorities of God!
Now I'm going to bring up an idea here that may anger those in the pro-choice crowd because I'm adopting a piece of their vernacular, but I hope they do not. Intellectual abortion, that's what I call it when school boards or other governing bodies over education, infested with these religious bigots, cut back on funding or mandate some sort of religious-based curriculum.
We've heard the arguments before. "We think there should be equal chance for both sides to be heard" they often say. Intelligent Design needs to be on the same level with Evolution, or else neither can be taught. Well, eventually, as I have seen, it also starts to come down to simply degrading the teaching of science on a grammer school level. Intellectual abortion, because we lose kids at a point where science could enlighten them, and we as a nation could seem them blossom into new doctors or scientists. And don't think it isn't just science, intellectual abortion has also found its way into the arts.
I'm a disabled person, suffering from scoliosis. No doubt, nanotechnology could find its way towards malicious purposes. There could also be an accident (gray goo), a nano version of Chernobyl. But I personally think that nanotechnology could also provide many medical benefits. The blind could see again, as micro machines repair damaged ocular nerves. The reconstruction of nerves or other tissues on a microscopic level could allow many to walk again, use their arms, or what have you. And personally, perhaps they could fix my medical problems.
Please forgive my rant, you folks deserved to read something better. It's just, well, I get passionate when I see things like logic and reason and science being casted aside as if it were nothing. So much can be done to make this a better world, and science is a tool for all of us to make that possibility. Ignorance of the science of things, be it the wasteful use of resources, to education, to me is a true crime.
Growing up disabled, I've seen children suffer through some sort of similar circumstances. Its always in the back of my mind, that had we just pumped resources into educating one more researcher, these children wouldn't have to suffer. So it just galls me, that these people would, essentially, indirectly condone torture because they are afraid of upsetting some sort of written book or deity.