I normally don’t make any comment on this blog about political news, not because I don’t care, but because I do that in other venues. As a social scientist, I write/do research for a living about political and economic consequences of choices that are sometimes ill-advised and incredibly damaging, and I don’t feel the need of repeating myself here.(Also, the mathematical models I use are beyond boring, even for me).
But even a feature about Space News of the Week this Sunday won’t be able to ignore what’s happening in the US now – since all government agencies are threatened by the new Administration, NASA included. Good for us, they’re fighting back.
Everybody is entitled to his/her beliefs – this is what a free country should be about. But when you start making people accountable not for their deeds but for the place they had the sheer (un)luck to be born, well, you’re heading toward a world we don’t need to see (ever again).
Choose your way of pledging support – be it by subscribing to magazines that try to give public opinion hard facts and not shameful lies or, even worse, fantasy worlds – or whatever works for you; go to the protests if you can, otherwise say it where you stand for -calmly, loud and clear. You don’t need to move mountains; a small rock is enough. We are millions out there.
I’m getting off for the day since I ‘m on twitter following the unfolding events. I’ll leave you with the quote from one of the finest Italian poets from XVIII century, a political exile (among other things). “Se non volete combattere, siate servi e tacete. [If you don’t want to stand up and fight, be slaves and shut up.] A few centuries later, I found it still relevant – unfortunately, I might add. Over and out.
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