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From: pcjg7045@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Pramod C. John)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,talk.religion.misc,sci.bio
Subject: Re: Forrest Mimms fired by Scientific American
Message-ID: <1991Mar7.013827.19891@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
Date: 7 Mar 91 01:38:27 GMT
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tom@dvnspc1.Dev.Unisys.COM (Tom Albrecht) writes:

>In article <5472@tellab5.tellabs.com> pauls@tellabs.com (Paul Silver) writes:
><Scientific American fired Forrest Mimms because having someone who
><believed in creationism as a member of their staff would cause the
><magazine to lose its reputation.  I can see where this would be true.
><Would you read a book on, say, quantum mechanics, which contained
><contributions from the witch doctor of some Amazonian Indian tribe?
><Probably not.

>If the witch doctor had an advanced degree from an accredited  university
>and had demonstrated the ability to conduct independent, scholarly
>research, why not?

>-- 

>Tom Albrecht


	I firmly believe that the Scientific American had absolutely no right
to fire the guy over the reason claimed.  Since when has the right of people in 
the scientific community to believe what they want to believe in been revoked?
Even within the realm of Physics, there is quite a bit of dissension over many
even fundamental viewpoints.  To require that everyone agree with whomever is in
control is nothing but mind (polititical :)) control.  This is about as 
ludicrous as saying George Bush shouldn't be president of the U.S. because he's
against abortion and Roe v. Wade allows it.  (I can think of a lot of other
reasons though)  Maybe this should be taken to the courts as a case of 
"Intellectual Discrimination."  Mimms should be judged on the basis of his 
work, not on his beliefs.  Who cares if he believes in the tooth fairy, as long
as he does a satisfactory job!!  Although I think this is a perfect case for 
the ACLU, I doubt they would do anything either as "Creationism" is involved.
I would like to find about the credentials of this guys boss and his beliefs, 
and idiosyncracies.

What in the world is the Scientific Community coming to? 

Thoroughly disgusted in Champaign,

Pramod John




--
Pramod John, Dept. of ECE at UIUC 
email: Pramod@uiuc.edu
"I think it would be a good idea."
  - Gandhi, when asked what he thought of Western Civilization.