Yes, you read that correctly. The head of NASA, Charles Bolden, had this to say in an interview with Al Jazeera (via Powerline and Weasel Zippers (who provides the bold)
“Bolden: I am here in the region – its sort of the first anniversary of President Barack Obama’s visit to Cairo – and his speech there when he gave what has now become known as Obama’s “Cairo Initiative†where he announced that he wanted this to become a new beginning of the relationship between the United States and the Muslim world. When I became the NASA Administrator – before I became the NASA Administrator – he charged me with three things: One was that he wanted me to re-inspire children to want to get into science and math, that he wanted me to expand our international relationships, and third, and perhaps foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with predominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science, math, and engineering.â€
Well, yeah, I can understand that the Muslim world could feel rather left out and demoralized, since, for the most part, they haven’t been part of inventing, nor contributed much in science, the arts, engineering, etc, or anything else, since the 17th Century. Probably since the religion of blowing things up has become moribund in the the past, and their leaders stifle modernism. Yes, many Muslim countries are using the tools of modern society, ones such as Dubai. Good for them. But, the religious leaders keep the people dumb.
And, as Paul at Powerline points out, exploring space didn’t even make the top three missions NASA (for those of a liberal bent, that stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is being tasked with. We have entered the age of touchy feely. Goodbye exploration and advancement.
Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU
Teach does hate them muslims !!
“we” can’t afford to much space exploration right now. But we can rely on our good friends the Chinese to pick uo where we left off. And we can keep borrowing money from them to pay for our plastic things and also to finance our wars.
Teach does hate them muslims !!
Why would you make that baseless accusation?
“we†can’t afford to much space exploration right now.
“We” can’t afford not to explore space and other scientific areas that have actual benefits to the country.
The problem with people like yourself is that you see “space exploration” as not benefiting anyone. Nothing could be further from the truth, but truth never matters to people like you.
Take a few moments to educate yourself: http://techtran.msfc.nasa.gov/at_home.html
Secondly, there is also the “dream” factor. You would rather have people paid un-employment benefits than to pay people to do actual work that benefits people. Do you actually think that kids look at programs like the shuttle and space station and say “awwww….. screw it… When I grow up I want to be unemployed and on welfare!”
Clearly you do not understand the subject matter at all.
Nice little strawman, John, which really has nothing to do with the post, nor any relation to adult, rational discourse.
Perhaps you can illuminate us as to why NASA would be charged with anything other that what their actual purpose (NASA’s mission is to pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research.) is?
http://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/what_does_nasa_do.html