NASA lab accused of crackdown on intelligent design-What is going on NASA?

Complaint alleges harassment, secret investigation, gag order

A complaint has been filed against NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, which sent Galileo to Jupiter and dispatched a ship named Dawn to orbit asteroids Vesta and Ceres, claiming managers there discriminated against and demoted a key project worker because he shared intelligent design videos with co-workers.

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The case has been filed by David Coppedge, an information technology specialist and systems administrator on the lab's Cassini mission to Saturn, which has been described as the most ambitious interplanetary exploration ever launched.

"Coppedge was punished even though supervisors admitted never receiving a single complaint regarding his conversations about intelligent design prior to their investigation, and even though other employees were allowed to express diverse ideological opinions, including attacking intelligent design," Luskin said.

"Anyone who thinks that today's culture of science allows an open discussion of evolution is sorely mistaken," said John G. West, associate director of the Center for Science and Culture. "When it comes to intelligent design, private and government-run agencies are suppressing free speech."

Source: www.wnd.com...

Now here is an area where I would love to see some great thoughts and ideas on-Intelligent Design. I am a layman at this topic. Anyone care to voice their thoughts.

This story, a great read, clearly demostrates how the Fed Gov't will go to just about any means to surpress free thinking in the work place-IF they don't agree with it. There are several other examples of Fed employees being disiplined etc.

Honestly, I never thought about anything other than intelligent design-not seriously anyway. I do think that ALL possiblities should be considered when scientist and the alike are doing research. To limit or ban any particular segment would seen to make the final results flawed due to not every angle looked at etc.

From the article:

Intelligent design is not religion

I suppose there are ways to present the theory without it being religious, but the truth is the hypothesis is indigenous to nearly every religion we know of. It is simply another not-so-cleverly disguised phrase for creationism.

That being said, this is a World Net Daily article and they're notorious for being inaccurate in their sensationalism. Also, in nearly every case of someone claiming to be fired for reasons revolving around "intelligent design" it turns out there were other issues and reasons for their dismissals.

Why not just leave all possibilities on the table until proven to not be possible? Sounds more political then scientific to me. Is it possible that this has something to do with their funding?

-E-

reply to post by traditionaldrummer


now-a-days-Ill take a WND article over an MSM (and FOX). Well, almost anyday. When it comes to science and what-not, I think WND does an excelent job. But-I have to say-there are always two sides to a story, we'll have to wait and see if NASA responds. To each his own.

What I really got out of that, other than the FEDS don't like free thinking when they are trying to prove something they already believe-no disention!) if the lighing on Saturn. I just did a post on it-very interesting and I linked the NASA Jet Propultion site there that has a ton of stuff on it-fairly recent.

Originally posted by anon72
reply to post by traditionaldrummer

 

now-a-days-Ill take a WND article over an MSM (and FOX). Well, almost anyday. When it comes to science and what-not, I think WND does an excelent job. But-I have to say-there are always two sides to a story, we'll have to wait and see if NASA responds. To each his own.

What I really got out of that, other than the FEDS don't like free thinking when they are trying to prove something they already believe-no disention!) if the lighing on Saturn. I just did a post on it-very interesting and I linked the NASA Jet Propultion site there that has a ton of stuff on it-fairly recent.

I don't think it's so much that Feds don't like free thinking so much as the fact remains that mounds of evidence support evolutionary theory and essentially zero evidence backs "intelligent design". Denial of scientific evidence is a bit out of place in a scientific organiation.

I also find it a bit contradictory that he claims that "intelligent design is not religion", then claims religious discrimination. The guy sounds a bit off balance.

Originally posted by anon72
What I really got out of that, other than the FEDS don't like free thinking

There is also the point that it is a government institution funded by taxpayer dollars. There is the maintenance of the separation of church and state which comes in to play.

reply to post by traditionaldrummer


Yes, as you say it but I guess that would all depend on how he presented it, where he did it (lunch break room or at his desk) and who to.

If he was saying God this and God that then maybe but I don't know if someone talking religion at work to others would violate that provision.

Any Attorneys care to weigh in?

Originally posted by MysterE
Why not just leave all possibilities on the table until proven to not be possible?

Anything's possible, but that's not how science operates. I, for example, can be Supreme Being Zmorrg, broadcasting to ATS on a tight subspace beam from a distant galaxy. This is entirely possible. I don't hesitate to guess that you would dismiss such possibility as utter bull, as you should. Same goes to ID.

Originally posted by anon72
reply to post by traditionaldrummer

 

Yes, as you say it but I guess that would all depend on how he presented it, where he did it (lunch break room or at his desk) and who to.

You know, it doesn't take a rocket scientist (no pun intended) to understand that some things are best discussed outside of the work environment. Discussing politics or religion at work is stepping into dangerous territory.

[edit on 16-4-2010 by traditionaldrummer]