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Path: utzoo!utcs!lsuc!jimomura
From: jimomura@lsuc.UUCP (Jim Omura)
Newsgroups: can.politics
Subject: Re: Re: Some problems with Star Wars
Message-ID: <676@lsuc.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 24-Jun-85 23:39:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: lsuc.676
Posted: Mon Jun 24 23:39:35 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 25-Jun-85 06:34:59 EDT
References: <1196@utcsri.UUCP>
Reply-To: jimomura@lsuc.UUCP (Jim Omura|Barrister Jimomura Solicitor|Toronto)
Distribution: can
Organization: Barrister & Solicitor, Toronto
Lines: 29
Summary: Cure worse than problem?


     This response isn't really about SDI.  I'm starting to get worried
about the negative attitude to research which might be labelled SDI
related.  At this time, I'm trying to remain fairly open minded to SDI
arguments on both sides.  Generally I'm not in favour of taking part,
for a number of reasons that have been batted around here and in the
press (nothing original--sorry), but I'm concerned that many people are
going to do a remake of the 'Commie Scare' of the McCarthy era (and the
'Yellow Terror' of pre-war North America), but against high tech
research generally.  It seems to me that a lot of legitimate research
may suffer because people are going to make their decisions more on the
basis of 'is this SDI or isn't it' than 'is this a good project or
isn't it'?

     Is there any such thing as research which *can't* contribute to
SDI?  How close are the projects of those of you who are arguing most
vigorously against it?  If it has *anything* to do with computers, then
I submit that it will probably be beneficial to SDI (sure, I'm talking
about indirect benefit, but it's a lot closer than doing research on
growing better carrots).
 
     Is this negativism I feel around here real or am I worried about
nothing?
 
                                        Jim O.

-- 
James Omura, Barrister & Solicitor, Toronto
ihnp4!utzoo!lsuc!jimomura