Re:In the World of Astrophysics, One Failed Cancel Campaign ...
by naasking on Monday December 26, 2022 @12:56PM
(#34139999)
> After substantial community pressure a more detailed historical report was released [3], which in my view clarifies that Webb was not the motive force behind the efforts at State but in no way exonerates him.
Exonerates him of what, specifically?
> Did the actions taken under his direction make life worse for gays and lesbians? Definitely.
Were they actually under his direction? Because it seems like it was a federal law, so why exactly does that qualify as "his direction"?
> Would it have been better if NASA had chosen to honor someone else with the naming of a $10B telescope? Indisputably.
I dispute it. Not because Webb is a "better" candidate than anyone else, but because I dispute the core implication that merely existing in a time and place and following the law, with no actual evidence of wrongdoing, by itself implicates a person in some kind of wrongdoing that should disqualify their contributions from being recognized.
Exonerates him of what, specifically?
> Did the actions taken under his direction make life worse for gays and lesbians? Definitely.
Were they actually under his direction? Because it seems like it was a federal law, so why exactly does that qualify as "his direction"?
> Would it have been better if NASA had chosen to honor someone else with the naming of a $10B telescope? Indisputably.
I dispute it. Not because Webb is a "better" candidate than anyone else, but because I dispute the core implication that merely existing in a time and place and following the law, with no actual evidence of wrongdoing, by itself implicates a person in some kind of wrongdoing that should disqualify their contributions from being recognized.