THIS a thousand times.
THIS THIS THIS
The comments on this thread disagreeing with it are INSANE and insanely missing the point. People are losing their shit over a name. A collection of words.
Did NASA know the connotation? It seems as though they may have at least been informed before the decision was finalized. But, the original post is absolutely right. As well as the author's subsequent comments.
Particularly THIS comment.
The people agreeing with it DO NOT need to be told that they are offended by it. The people who disagree however only see you as whiny pedantic idiots. This is not a fight worth waging. You won't win. NASA isn't likely to change the name, and whether they do or not, it won't change anything in the minds of those who disagree with you. Or rather, if it does, it will simply serve to lessen your credibility in their eyes.
Which in turn will make them less likely to listen when you come forward with something actually worth taking a stand against.
I'm sorry but the public knowledge of the Nazi connotation of "Ultima Thule" was largely unknown before someone decided to complain so loudly about it. It was much more likely that it would have come to be known more for the literal meaning rather any historical significance.
The reality is, if there is some shadowy figure behind this, THIS is what they want. This is a simple tactic which has been used for ages. It allows language to be used to divide. "A rose by any other name" is how it should be. As far as I can tell, there is no indication that the name was chosen to offend others.
In fact, I think that there is something redemptive about taking words tainted by the past and rewriting their history for the future.
Every word, slogan, or phrase has or will (given enough time) be associated with something terrible. While we should make some efforts to avoid offense, we can't allow the past to rob us of the ability to speak. If we can't rehabilitate the words of the past, eventually you'll have no voice with which to protect the future.
This sounds like making a mountain out of a mole hill. But, such is the nature of setting precedents. Letting it become the norm that we shall never again utter the words tainted by the past certainly sets us up to be exploited. Don't go seeking out things to be offended by or helping others to be offended by something which would otherwise be benign. There are better ways to accomplish just about anything.
The comments on this thread disagreeing with it are INSANE and insanely missing the point. People are losing their shit over a name. A collection of words.
Did NASA know the connotation? It seems as though they may have at least been informed before the decision was finalized. But, the original post is absolutely right. As well as the author's subsequent comments.
Particularly THIS comment.
The people agreeing with it DO NOT need to be told that they are offended by it. The people who disagree however only see you as whiny pedantic idiots. This is not a fight worth waging. You won't win. NASA isn't likely to change the name, and whether they do or not, it won't change anything in the minds of those who disagree with you. Or rather, if it does, it will simply serve to lessen your credibility in their eyes.
Which in turn will make them less likely to listen when you come forward with something actually worth taking a stand against.
So, unless the story was published with the intent of undermining the credibility of the very people who would rally behind it (not impossible), then the story otherwise serves no purpose.
I'm sorry but the public knowledge of the Nazi connotation of "Ultima Thule" was largely unknown before someone decided to complain so loudly about it. It was much more likely that it would have come to be known more for the literal meaning rather any historical significance.
The reality is, if there is some shadowy figure behind this, THIS is what they want. This is a simple tactic which has been used for ages. It allows language to be used to divide. "A rose by any other name" is how it should be. As far as I can tell, there is no indication that the name was chosen to offend others.
In fact, I think that there is something redemptive about taking words tainted by the past and rewriting their history for the future.
Every word, slogan, or phrase has or will (given enough time) be associated with something terrible. While we should make some efforts to avoid offense, we can't allow the past to rob us of the ability to speak. If we can't rehabilitate the words of the past, eventually you'll have no voice with which to protect the future.
This sounds like making a mountain out of a mole hill. But, such is the nature of setting precedents. Letting it become the norm that we shall never again utter the words tainted by the past certainly sets us up to be exploited. Don't go seeking out things to be offended by or helping others to be offended by something which would otherwise be benign. There are better ways to accomplish just about anything.
Comments
Post a Comment