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From: dls@mtgzz.UUCP (d.l.skran)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: L-5 Society
Message-ID: <1530@mtgzz.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 7-Jan-86 15:55:46 EST
Article-I.D.: mtgzz.1530
Posted: Tue Jan  7 15:55:46 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 8-Jan-86 08:12:58 EST
References: <12161097670.46.JOSEPH@RED.RUTGERS.EDU> <8512200202.AA01024@riacs.ARPA>, <776@petrus.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Middletown NJ
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=> 
=> > I recently resigned my life membership in the L5 society.  They
=> > are somewhat effective as lobbyists (sp?).  The publication is
=> > boring.  But mostly I got fed up with their 'I hate the Russians'

For an all volunteer publication with NO paid articles it's pretty
damn good - and getting better under Greg Barr's leadership.

=> > line.  Not that the Russian leadership is a bunch of nice guys, but
=> > they have made significant contributions to space development and
=> > the Russian people ARE nice guys.

I am astounded and confused by this. Where did you ever get these ideas?
The L5 Society is not anti-Russian and insofar as I know(I've been
a member since 1979)I've never seen an anti-Russian(per se) article
in the L5 news. Yes, there are members(Jerry Pournelle et al) who
are strongly anti-communist, but the society has never expressed
a position or taken any anti-Russian stands. Please be specific
in making such accusations so that others can see where you
are coming from.
=> 
=> Indeed, many L-5'ers see SDI as the ticket for moving people into space, and
=> that blinds them to its other consequences. It almost seems that to them,
=> ANY space project is automatically a GOOD space project.

Some L5 members may hold this position. The Society is
neutral, and the leadership is well aware of the dangers of being
pro or anti SDI.

=> 
=> Seems to me that Werner von Braun once had a problem like that.
=> 
I think you are selling both von Braun and those L5 members who advocate
SDI short. Supporting military efforts entails enormous risk, but
the risk of doing nothing is also enormous.
I think both groups were(and are) aware of the risks. They have just
weighed them up differently than you have.


It's easy to pick on von Braun, but I strongly suspect that without him
we would not yet have made it to the moon.

It is nothing less than a national tragedy that the only way money can
be broken loose for many projects(eg AI for many years) is by claiming
that it is in the interests of national defense.

=> Phil Karn
=> (L-5 society member, but wondering)
=> 

To be perfectly clear: L5 supports peaceful civilian uses of
space as far as I know, and is neutral on SDI.

Dale Skran
(L5 member dedicated to making L5 better rather than complaining
about its admitted shortcomings)
=>