[AZ-Observing] Re: Asteroid To Be Named After Trayvon Martin, Lowell Observatory

  • From: "Eric Steinberg" <eric@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 21:47:15 -0400

I didn’t want to wade into this topic, but I strongly agree with you.  
Whatever one's opinion, the overarching issue is certainly extraordinarily 
divisive. Given the increasing tendency for science to become politicized (i.e. 
destroyed), I think it makes sense for people to let Lowell know that neither 
politics, "social justice" nor any other meme-du-jour has any place in a 
scientific institution, especially for its public face.

While it is inappropriate and off-topic to be discussing the Florida trial, I 
think the group is a proper forum to at least let people know what's going on 
vis-à-vis Lowell.

Eric

-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jeff Hopkins
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 6:04 PM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Asteroid To Be Named After Trayvon Martin, Lowell 
Observatory

Hi David,

Thanks for writing Lowell. Good letter. I too sent them an email.


For those saying this is off topic, remember Lowell is an Astronomical 
Observatory in Arizona and one of the focal points of astronomy. Asteroids are 
astronomical objects and the naming of them for people who have made 
contributions to astronomy is very important. What is proposed is extremely 
demeaning to those who have received the honor. 


While the issue may be considered political I feel it certainly deserves 
attention of astronomers in AZ. Over the past few days there have been 
thousands of comments on many different website discussing this issue and most 
by non-astronomers.Just do a Google search and you will get hundreds of 
responses and web sites. I estimate 99.9% feel outraged and are focusing their 
feelings on Lowell Observatory, This will affect the astronomy in AZ. If the 
naming goes through, Lowell will lose a great deal of respect and I would 
certainly hate to see it fade away.


Jeff

Hopkins Phoenix Observatory
(187283)
Counting Photons
Phoenix, Arizona
www.hposoft.com/Astro/astro.html



-----Original Message-----
From: David M. Douglass <dmdouglass@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: az-observing <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tue, Sep 10, 2013 4:12 pm
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Asteroid To Be Named After Trayvon Martin, Lowell 
Observatory


I would like to avoid the whole Trayvon Martin issue. At least in my astronomy 
activities.
BUT.... Lowell started this. And I do NOT think they should have. 
And I let them know.
I made sure to say that I am not speaking on behalf of either group that I am a 
member of (SAC / EVAC), but I do want them to know my feelings.
I think they have made a BIG mistake. They need to concentrate on science and 
astronomy (IMHO).
Here is the email I sent to Lowell....
#########################
Ref:
Story about Lowell naming an asteroid for Trayvon Martin
Proposal By -- William Lowell Putnam III
http://www.mrconservative.com/2013/09/24047-asteroid-to-be-named-after-trayvon-martin/

I wish and hope that this email is forwarded to the executive office of Lowell, 
and also a copy to Mr. Putnam.
If the basic information stated above is correct, then I am very displeased 
with 
Lowell.

I am a member of two astronomy clubs in the Phoenix area. These are the Saguaro 
Astronomy Club (SAC), and the East Valley Astronomy Club (EVAC).
I believe that Lowell should be familiar with both groups.
I recently voted in both groups to support financial support for a Lowell 
project. If the above information is true, then I regret that decision. 
I deeply regret it.

This email does NOT speak for these two groups. That is a job for its officers, 
not me. And…. They may disagree. That is their prerogative.
But I wish my thoughts and feelings to have validity, so I mention it.

Lowell is a scientific entity. It is world famous, and very active in a field 
that is my private passion… Astronomy.
I do not wish to get into the discussion of Trayvon Martin, or anything related 
to him or the event.
And I do not think Lowell should becoming involved.
Lowell needs to stick to the field of science, and astronomy, and community 
education in these fields.

If the information is true, then you should be aware that you have created 
quite 
a stir in the two groups mentioned above.
And the stir seems to be causing a divide. A very troubling divide.  
Shame on Lowell.
Hopefully it is not too late to abort this action.
##########################################
David M. Douglass
dmdouglass@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (secondary)
david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (main)
Cell  (602) 908-9092

-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
On Behalf Of beevo1@xxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 4:18 PM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: Paul Lind
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Asteroid To Be Named After Trayvon Martin, Lowell 
Observatory

I agree as well.

Too bad for Lowell observatory, I will no longer visit them, something we did 
quite often in the past.  I will no longer support any of their activitities as 
well.

Beevo

---- Paul Lind <pulind@xxxxx> wrote: 

============Sounds pretty inappropriate. Lowell has the right to name its own 
asteroids, but 
how about naming them after the 3000  9/11 victims?  And throw in a few famous 
murder victims like Abe Lincoln, Alexander Hamilton, Martin Luther King, Nicole 
Simpson, and then add a few "unfortunate" overdose victims, famous people like 
Jimi Hendrix and Elvis. Actually, I thought it was customary to name asteroids 
for mythological characters and astronomers, and in a rare case for the 
discoverer's cat. But not a non-astronomical shooting victim.

Paul

----- Original Message -----
From: Jeff Hopkins <phxjeffx@xxxxxxx>
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 14:33:37 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [AZ-Observing]  Asteroid To Be Named After Trayvon Martin, Lowell 
Observatory

I hope this is not true.

See
http://www.mrconservative.com/2013/09/24047-asteroid-to-be-named-after-trayvon-martin/
Jeff

Hopkins Phoenix Observatory
(187283)
Counting Photons
Phoenix, Arizona
www.hposoft.com/Astro/astro.html
(187283)


--
See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send 
personal replies to the author, not the list.


--
See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please 
send personal replies to the author, not the list.


--
See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please 
send personal replies to the author, not the list.


--
See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please 
send personal replies to the author, not the list.


 

--
See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please 
send personal replies to the author, not the list.

--
See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please 
send personal replies to the author, not the list.

Other related posts:

  1. Home
  2. az-observing
  3. Archive
  4. 09-2013