Re: (OPE-L) RE: Eminent physicist refuses to review American colleagues' papers

[mongiovg <mongiovg@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

It's not really clear that Amit's strategy worked. A handful of exchanges on
an electronic bulletin board hardly constitutes the triggering of a debate. I
doubt whether he has changed the mind of the editor with whom he had the
exchange (whose side of it he circulated without explicit permission, by the
way). I suppose if I were in the editor's shoes, I'd be irritated at being
tarred with Amit's collective-guilt brush: for all we or Amit knows, the
editor & the entire editorial board of the journal in question might be
passionately anti-war and anti-Bush. Perhaps there is something going on at
some physics lists. I have no idea how (or even whether) most physicists think
about the nexus between ideology & science. But if the dominant reaction among
Amit's peers is that his attitude constitutes an inappropriate politicization
of science, then his stance is counterproductive.

Gary

>===== Original Message From gerald_a_levy <gerald_a_levy@xxxxxxx> =====
>Gary wrote on Wednesday, April 30, 2003:
>
>> I'm curious what others think on this matter.
>
>I'm not convinced that it was the best move tactically, but
>Daniel Amit's individual action has been largely successful
>since we and others are talking about the underlying issues
>(including the role of scientists and academics in the US and
>UK and whether they share any of the moral responsibility
>for the ends that their creations have been put to by the
>military establishment in the US and UK).  From the outset,
>it has been clear that Daniel Amit sought to publicize this matter
>(see below) and stir debate.  It worked.
>
>In solidarity, Jerry
>
>> PS I intend to distribute our exchange as much as possible.
>> I authorize and Pray that you do the same.