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Thank you! After reading this same statement about toilets vs space missions dozens of times I could hardly muster anything more articulate than "aaargh!" Appar
by primelens 12y ago
Thank you! After reading this same statement about toilets vs space missions dozens of times I could hardly muster anything more articulate than "aaargh!" Apparently the West had solved all of humanity's problems and ensured a reign of perfect equality and peace before embarking on trivial things like research!
- chc 12y agoThis is pure ad hominem. "The West is dumb and mean" doesn't make anybody else's actions smart. You may as well criticize their odor for all the relevance it has to whether or not this is a sensible use of India's money. For the record, I actually think it's probably a good use of money. I just think this breed of response — "Shut up, because the West sucks!" — is singularly toxic.
- manish_gill 12y agoThe article in question specifically criticizes the journalists. The author (in subsequent comments) even discourages others from blatantly generalizing countries' reaction in the same manner as some of the components of the media.
- chc 12y agoThe OP doesn't really do that. The article linked by pushtheenvelope does, but that is what I was criticizing. It doesn't actually support India's program; it mostly just makes sarcastic and hostile comments about other countries. Regardless of your opinion of the West or of India, personally attacking critics (based on their ethnicity, no less) is not the same thing as supporting an idea.
- primelens 12y agoYou misunderstand my argument if you read it as "the West is dumb and mean". What I meant to emphasize was that the West made the (IMHO right) decision, to spend on research etc while it was working on other social problems. It is never one or the other. But I would add the same model should be extended to other countries as well.