Letter to the advocate dueling and gang violence: (not published)

Letter to the advocate dueling and gang violence:

I read with ­­interest the article in the  March 16, 2014 Advocate (http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/news): “Historically Speaking: Dueling and the Code of Honor,” in which the custom of literally killing an adversary over a trivial dispute is described. 

As pointed out by Dr. Prothrow-Stith (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnP-ngZTPZ0), the similarity between this historical practice and contemporary violence cannot be missed.  The documentary “Shell-Shocked” (http://www.shellshockeddoc.com/) shows that “New Orleans, Louisiana has one of the highest per capita murder rates in the United States. … Eighty percent of the victims are black males, mostly in their teenage years.” Although the demographics are different, the underlying processes are similar.  In both cases, verbal disputes and slights of honor disproportionately escalate into senseless death by revenge and retaliation. 

From a biological point of view, anger escalating into violence is an evolutionary fossil, it is an atavistic relic of pre-civilization life.  Conflicts must be resolved by justice.  As an educator, I know that in every group of students, there are extremely intelligent, creative, curious, hopeful, questing minds. Our country and world need these young people to survive and solve the pressing political, technological and scientific issues of the next century.  Their loss is our loss.

The Advocate article states that dueling became “antiquated and obsolete”, the last known duel having been fought more than 100 years ago.  We need to make contemporary revenge killing similarly obsolete.

Sent by web form 3 17 2014

LETTER ABOUT budget cuts to schools. NOT PUBLISHED

I read with interest the article “Jindal Has Trained College President Well” by Robert Mann in the Jan26, 2014 Times-Picayune.  Mr. Mann, in my opinion correctly, compares “system presidents and other education leaders” to obediently trained dogs.  After 6 straight years of disastrous budget cuts to higher education, Louisiana colleges and universities have sunk to a low level, with massive faculty layoffs, virtually no pay raises (even with promotions), cuts in programs and professional development, reductions in student services, technology and extremely low morale. Perhaps these leaders fear for their jobs if they protest, since the price of crossing Louisiana governors is legendary.

 

I wish to make three points: 1. Losing a $200,000+ job is quite different than losing a $35,000 job.  2. There is power in numbers. I think that all these leaders should have and should still TOGETHER openly and publicly protest this long term budgetary debacle.    (The current proposed increases are small, symbolic and based on tuition increases, and may NOT signal the end of the cuts.)  These leaders are prestigious, nationally ranked higher education administrators. Their unified voice would send a strong message. Even if there was no immediate, tangible result, the message would be recognized by the public. Moreover, if they speak in a strong, unified manner, it is unlikely that all would lose their jobs.  3. Louisiana needs to constitutionally protect the higher education budget.

LETTER TO the advocate: SCAMS. NOT PUBLISHED

Letter to the advocate:

Supplements, Complementary, Alternative Medicine STANDS for SCAM

I was disappointed to see the article in the March 3, 2014 Advocate about “reflexology,” which is glorified foot massage, touting the benefits of this technique for …”sinus pain, joint pain, back pain, headaches and circulatory and digestive issues.”  The article quotes a practioner saying “reflexology deals with the principle that there are reflexes on the hands and feet that correspond to all of our organs, glands and parts of the body.”  This is entirely wishful thinking.

This practice is in a class of practices, such as chiropractic, homeopathy, aroma therapy and others that have NO objective medical benefit.  The benefit here is that of a good foot rub, which may feel good and make a person better.  Numerous studies have debunked such pseudoscientific practices.  For example, recipients of chiropractic showed no more medical benefit than blinded controls who were pricked with toothpicks.

These practices are dangerous for several reasons.  First, they are a major waste of money.  Second, they may on occasion cause medical complications. Third, people with serious medical conditions may postpone genuine medical treatment, thinking that this snake oil will cure them.  Fourth, it diminishes the IQ of our nation.  Anti-science, anti-technology and anti-intellectual attitudes currently permeate our culture.  This is a time when we need all “brains on board” to solve major technological problems facing humanity in the future. 

I am disappointed that the Advocate, an ostensibly objective journal would apparently condone such quackery, by not presenting a balanced view.                                            

 

 

Letter to the editor 10 28 2013 LOUISIANA: “we don’t need no education” NOT PUBLISHED

LOUISIANA: “we don’t need no education”

 

The ironic juxtaposition of two opinion columns in Sundays TP was striking.  Mr. Robert Mann pointed out that college education in Louisiana has suffered many setbacks, including extreme funding cut-offs from Mr. Jindal.  Adjacent, Mr. Jarvis DeBerry stated that there is a paucity of attention on preventing breast cancer.  I wish to point out that strengthening education is required for game-changing biomedical advances.

For the past several years, Mr. Mann points out that for the following public universities, grambling, LSU,  McNeese, Southern Nichols, stat funding is down 41, 29, 38, 44 percent, respectively.  From other source, Deglado 12.3 for several years. UNO laid off 130. Year after year, these institutions have been cut and are expected to continue. 

Many cancers, to some degree is a random process.  Cancer genomes are massively scrambled, due to acceleration of DNA damage. The “low hanging fruit” of smoking, immediate causes have been identified.  Eventually,  scientists will be able to prevent random events. But paradigm-shifting research can only take place in the context of unfettered research by talented, well-trained scientists, who grow up from bright young well  educated children.  The systematic dismantling of our education system works against winning the war against cancer. 

letter to editor about religious anti-vaccinators. NOT PUBLISHED

I read with interest the article titled “Megachurch under scrutiny in measles cases” about a Texas church in which the pastor preached that vaccination is not necessary because “the Lord heals all diseases.”  The measles virus was introduced into the church by a person who had visited Indonesia, where measles is still endemic.  21 people caught measles, of whom 16 were documented  nonvaccinated and the others did not have documentation.  We can only hope that the virus is contained and does not kill anyone. Many people fail to realize (and it was not mentioned in the article) that although measles disease is usually a mild disease, it can kill.  For example, the WHO estimates that there were 158,000 deaths worldwide from measles in 2011. 

Ironically, many people enjoy good health without realizing that there are multitudes of health workers fighting to keep vaccinations levels high.  In the US, fortunately, we do not see crippling polio, small pox, pertussis, fatal tetanus, fatal rabies, and many other diseases that plague “underdeveloped” nations.  Many Americans do not understand that it is only through vaccination that we enjoy the absence of these diseases.   In 2002, indigenous measles was declared eradicated in North, Central and South America. 

Although some people decline vaccination for religious reasons, Jenny McCarthy and her ilk promulgate the completely wrong idea that there is a connection between MMR (measles, mumps, rubella vaccine) and autism.  The studies that supposedly showed this were completely fabricated. The work has been withdrawn and declared an “elaborate hoax.”   The studies were funded by trial lawyers seeking lawsuits.  Dr. Wakefield had all his medical licenses revoked. And yet the lie lives on--it has taken on a life of its own.

There are a very small number people who should not be vaccinated for medical reasons, such as immunosuppression. In addition, there are a small number of people who, even though they ARE vaccinated, may still catch the disease.  It is important to have universal vaccine coverage, which reduces the level of pathogen in the population, to protect such people. Unvaccinated people may acquire virus, not get ill and become carriers.  People who choose not vaccinate for nonmedical reasons are not only putting themselves at risk but they are potentially harming others. 

We are experiencing an epidemic of anti-intellectualism and pseudoscience.    In my opinion, individuals who proselytize against vaccination are like murderers.

 

 

 

 

letter to the editor-published. about LNG is NOT a solution to climate change

http://theadvocate.com/news/opinion/6799278-123/letter-renewable-energy-is-our

Letter to the Advocate:

I am writing in response to a letter on July 9, 2013 from Mr. Michael J. Oliver, Chief Executive Officer of the Committee of 100, a pro-industry lobby.  The letter is entitled: “Louisiana on the cusp of a new era” and celebrates 3 major ways in which current industry is ushering a new era of prosperity to Louisiana.  I beg to differ.  Granted, there may be short term revenue boosts to Louisiana business.  And these industries will offer lower gas and oil prices to Louisianans. However, most of the industries mentioned are carbon-fuel based.   These include fracking natural gas from the Haynesville shale, deep sea drilling and the first offshore liquefied natural gas fueling facility in the United States.  Simple chemistry reveals that whether gasoline, natural gas or liquefied natural gas is burned, carbon dioxide is produced.  There is no such thing as “clean natural gas.” There is no longer any question that global warming from CO₂ emissions is raising sea levels; other catastrophes, such as food shortages, loom.   We and our descendants will all pay in the long run for the continued wanton exploitation of carbon-based fuels.  When New Orleans real estate values start falling due to imminent, permanent flooding, the short term profits will be rued.  A better use of our limited resources would be to focus on renewable energy.

letter to the editor against religion in schools--published

Letter to the editor advocate:

http://theadvocate.com/news/opinion/6160516-123/letter-bills-put-religion-in

Regarding the letter to the editor May 25, “Evolution is its own religion,” By Larry Miller:

There is no doubt that the “Science Education Act” (HB116) and the school voucher program are intended to introduce a religion (Christianity) into public schools.  The pilgrims, and others, came to this land seeking freedom of religion. The writers of the constitution, in the “establishment cause,”   recognized that freedom of religion requires absence of a state religion.  Putting religion in public schools violates the establishment clause.  You can have your religion. Just not in the public schools.

Some people feel that there is no harm in having a small amount of religion in school. However, consider how would you feel if it was NOT YOUR religion? Would you like your tax dollars to fund teaching of OTHER religions to your children?

Mr. Miller states that “humanistic evolutional [sic] theory has the characteristics of a religion.” 

There are prominent scientists who are openly religious. Most view science and religion as separate realms. Dr. Francis Collins, head of NIH and former head of NCI, has written a book (“The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief,”) about how his scientific and religious thoughts are compatible. The great evolutionary biologist, Dr. Steven Jay Gould called this separation of science and religion “Nonoverlapping magesteria”.  Moreover, “In the 1950 Pope Pius XII confirmed that there is no intrinsic conflict between Christianity and the theory of evolution.”

Mr. Miller also quotes Carl Sagan as saying “The cosmos is all there is or ever will be” and calls it a “statement of faith.”   That is a TV show: not public school.  Moreover, many scientists may feel something akin to religious awe when observing the magnificence and grandeur of the universe, through their work. That does not make their scientific work intrinsically religious.  The difference is that the scientific part is supported by data.

These bills have made Louisiana a laughing stock of the nation. National organizations have cancelled major conferences here and boycotted Louisiana, costing jobs.   I do not understand why these blatantly unconstitutional acts have not been successfully challenged in the courts. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

letter published after hurricane isaac.

I hope that all the branches and leaves left by the storm will be used to help restore  the Louisiana marsh land, the way that the Christmas trees are.

An atheist scientist against the death penalty. THIS was published

To the times picayune about capital punishment:

http://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2013/02/death_penalty_doesnt_serve_as.html 

I agree with Nancy Conway’s Feb. 13, 2013 Point of view “It’s time to outlaw capital punishment.” I wish to make several points in addition to the practical, religious and ethical arguments she provides. I believe simply that killing is wrong. Criminal killing is wrong and the state-sanctioned killing is wrong. Heinous criminals must be punished, but convicted murderers can be locked away with minimal food, no visitors, etc, for the rest of their lives. If we kill them, we are no better than criminals. The “eye for an eye” language in the Bible comes from a time before there were prisons. The National Research Council of the National Academies has concluded that no research supports a deterrent effect of the death penalty on homicide. The death penalty serves only to feed the human emotion of revenge. By condoning revenge, we perpetuate violence in a world that is devolving into increasing senseless violence.