I recently chaperoned a group of Science Club students during a visit to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where we attended a presentation by NASA engineers and scientists who were part of the Mars rover Curiosity mission.
It was invigorating to watch this highly motivated, dedicated and enthusiastic group recount the work that went into their ongoing mission to find evidence of early life on Mars. I was proud to have my son with me as we had an opportunity to meet some real heroes.
Then, I read the statements of Paul Broun, a Republican and ranking member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. "All that stuff I was taught about evolution and embryology and Big Bang theory, all that is lies straight from the pit of hell." Broun also said he believes Earth is about 9,000 years old.
I also read House Republican Todd Akin saying of pregnancies from rape: "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down." He also is a member of the House Science Committee.
James Inhofe, Republican minority ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, declared: The theory that man-made emissions have caused global climate change is the "greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people."
These are actual quotes from elected leaders who are on these committees because of their "expertise."
Our citizens need to get serious about the level of ignorance we will tolerate from such leaders.The problems we face, whether it is the creation of good jobs, ongoing innovation in engineering and science, math and science education, or the protection of our environment, can't be solved as long as we have leaders who base their votes on such attitudes.
Great societies do not maintain their greatness because they foster such ignorance. They embrace knowledge and its applications to the betterment of that society. My son's generation deserves better than people like Broun, Akins and Inhofe to lead them into their futures.
SERGIO DIANA
Colonie