Let's be clear about what he said in his blog that's so inflammatory. Essentially, he said that gay people are morally culpable for AIDS, and that the monogamous gay people are culpable because they belong to the same group much how people belonging to the KKK are to blame even if they aren't the exact person committing violence.
He really didn't say that. He compared homosexuals to people who ride motorcycles without a helmet, not the KKK. He also criticized the homosexuals and IV drug users who spread disease.
What this has to do with his ability to mitigate an oil spill is beyond me.
Here's a good summary of the team Steven Chu, himself a Nobelist, appointed: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/mission_im... Note that Katz is called the "What am I doing here" person. And note, the above summary piece was posted in advance of those writings coming out. I think the real issue is, why did Chu ask Katz to join the team in the first place? He's really not got the same track record as the…
Actually, they all seem to be "what am I doing here" people. Three are nuclear engineers of varying sorts, one does superconductivity (also military stuff, including nuclear weapons), one does nanotechnology. Only George Cooper seems to have any remotely relevant expertise; he studies drilling into rocks. The main difference between the Katz and the rest is that Katz admitted he has no expertise. He's a very smart gu…
This is not a fair summary of the facts.
One person you describe as a nuclear engineer also did this: "In 1991, Garwin convened a symposium of experts to discus ways to stem oil flows from Kuwait wells, set on fire by Iraq during the Gulf War."
One other person you describe as a nuclear engineer was also head of Sandia for 5 years. You will end up with a broad knowledge of engineering techniques in a wide-ranging position like that; robotic handling techniques for nuclear material are something DOE labs know a lot about.
Another person is a robotics engineer; again, highly relevant here.
I have to disagree with "I don't agree, though, that this is a violation of his free speech rights. He can still speak." Freedom of speech doesn't mean that you have vocal cords. It means you are free from reprisal for your speech. This was a government appointment, and the story says that the DOE confirmed that the reason for his removal was because of his writings. So, the DOE punished him, by removing him from thi…
Freedom of speech doesn't typically imply no fear of reprisals from employers; why should it in this case?
I agree. You're not guaranteed no repercussions for your speech, only your ability to exercise it. You've got the right to express yourself and others have the right to respond. And as long as they aren't violating any contract with, that's perfectly ok.
Sounds like people on this team are too busy googling each other instead of shit like "can super glue gum up our oil well?"
Actually, they all seem to be "what am I doing here" people. Three are nuclear engineers of varying sorts, one does superconductivity (also military stuff, including nuclear weapons), one does nanotechnology. Only George Cooper seems to have any remotely relevant expertise; he studies drilling into rocks. The main difference between the Katz and the rest is that Katz admitted he has no expertise. He's a very smart gu…
This is not a fair summary of the facts. One person you describe as a nuclear engineer also did this: "In 1991, Garwin convened a symposium of experts to discus ways to stem oil flows from Kuwait wells, set on fire by Iraq during the Gulf War." One other person you describe as a nuclear engineer was also head of Sandia for 5 years. You will end up with a broad knowledge of engineering techniques in a wide-ranging pos…
Oil fires != underwater oil spills. It's a totally different problem.
As for being the head of Sandia and picking up general engineering skills, I don't disagree they are all smart people with generally applicable skills in the physical sciences. That doesn't mean they are underwater oil spill experts.
Also, Katz is an expert in fluid flows. That's just as relevant as robotics.
Let's be clear about what he said in his blog that's so inflammatory. Essentially, he said that gay people are morally culpable for AIDS, and that the monogamous gay people are culpable because they belong to the same group much how people belonging to the KKK are to blame even if they aren't the exact person committing violence.
He really didn't say that. He compared homosexuals to people who ride motorcycles without a helmet, not the KKK. He also criticized the homosexuals and IV drug users who spread disease. What this has to do with his ability to mitigate an oil spill is beyond me.
"Post-Script October 9, 2005: In recent weeks this essay has been the subject of controversy at, and even beyond, Washington University (see, for example, recent issues of Student Life). A number of critics have asked if monogamous homosexuals are also culpable. Quite apart from the question of the definition of monogamous (sexual contact with only one person in a lifetime? serial monogamy? some cheating? etc.), I suggest the following analogy: A man joins the Ku Klux Klan. He is not violent, and would never hurt a fly; he just wants a safe place to express his racist feelings. Is he culpable for the Klan's past acts of violence? I believe that even though he is not criminally responsible for acts that occurred before he joined, he is morally culpable for joining the Klan. The Klan has blood on its hands, and anyone who joins must share the guilt. So, too, with the homosexual movement."
Let's be clear about what he said in his blog that's so inflammatory. Essentially, he said that gay people are morally culpable for AIDS, and that the monogamous gay people are culpable because they belong to the same group much how people belonging to the KKK are to blame even if they aren't the exact person committing violence.
He really didn't say that. He compared homosexuals to people who ride motorcycles without a helmet, not the KKK. He also criticized the homosexuals and IV drug users who spread disease. What this has to do with his ability to mitigate an oil spill is beyond me.
He really didn't say that. He compared homosexuals to people who ride motorcycles without a helmet, not the KKK. He also criticized the homosexuals and IV drug users who spread disease. What this has to do with his ability to mitigate an oil spill is beyond me.
"Post-Script October 9, 2005: In recent weeks this essay has been the subject of controversy at, and even beyond, Washington University (see, for example, recent issues of Student Life). A number of critics have asked if monogamous homosexuals are also culpable. Quite apart from the question of the definition of monogamous (sexual contact with only one person in a lifetime? serial monogamy? some cheating? etc.), I su…