[extropy-chat] NASA and the Big Bang "theory"

[Neil H.]

Update: George Deutsch recently announced his resignation. From NASA Watch:

http://www.nasawatch.com/archives/2006/02/george_deutsch_1.html

*Editor's note:* NASA Watch has learned that George Deutsch resigned his
position at NASA today. NASA will not be commenting on this personnel issue.

George Deutsch, Up and Coming PAO
Politico<http://www.nasawatch.com/archives/2006/02/george_deutsch.html>(earlier
post)

George Deutsch Did Not Graduate From Texas A & M
University<http://scientificactivist.blogspot.com/2006/02/breaking-news-george-deutsch-did-not.html>,
The Scientific Activist

*Update:* A Young Bush Appointee Resigns His Post at
NASA<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/08/politics/08nasa.html>,
NY Times

*"Mr. Deutsch's resignation came on the same day that officials at Texas A&M
University confirmed that he did not graduate from there, as his résumé on
file at the agency asserted."*


On 2/4/06, Damien Broderick <thespike at satx.rr.com> wrote:
>
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/04/science/04climate.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&th&emc=th
>
> The Big Bang memo came from Mr. Deutsch, a 24-year-old presidential
> appointee in the press office at NASA headquarters whose résumé says he
> was
> an intern in the "war room" of the 2004 Bush-Cheney re-election campaign.
> A
> 2003 journalism graduate of Texas A&M, he was also the public-affairs
> officer who sought more control over Dr. Hansen's public statements.
>
> In October 2005, Mr. Deutsch sent an e-mail message to Flint Wild, a NASA
> contractor working on a set of Web presentations about Einstein for
> middle-school students. The message said the word "theory" needed to be
> added after every mention of the Big Bang.
>
> The Big Bang is "not proven fact; it is opinion," Mr. Deutsch wrote,
> adding, "It is not NASA's place, nor should it be to make a declaration
> such as this about the existence of the universe that discounts
> intelligent
> design by a creator."
>
> It continued: "This is more than a science issue, it is a religious issue.
> And I would hate to think that young people would only be getting one-half
> of this debate from NASA. That would mean we had failed to properly
> educate
> the very people who rely on us for factual information the most."
>
> ====================
>
> Well, yes, and I trust that they will henceforth also always refer to the
> Spherical Earth Theory, since this is more than a science issue, it is a
> religious issue: the Bible implies that the world is flat, with four
> corners.
>
> Damien Broderick
>
>
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