Transcribe
Translate
Plenum, issue 2, July 1946
Page 15
More information
digital collection
archival collection guide
transcription tips
PLENUM Page fifteen And here's more about optimists and pessimists re atomic energy. Later reports on the LASFS indicate that everybody has been going off half-cocked about the Angeleno's attitude, but I can't resist a last word. I like very much the quotation from "Solution Unsatisfactory," which I re-read yesterday and it stood my hair on end, as follows: "What I liked about him, tho, was that, tho he was liberal, he was tough minded, which most liberals aren't. Most liberals believe that water runs downhill, but, praise god, it'll never reach the bottom." That also describes the "optimists" who believe that while things look tough, the world will muddle thru in some way. That ain't for me. I favor the tough-minded pessimists who say things look plenty tough, and they'll stay tough unless we do something about it. So I admire the scientists who have campaigned for proper atomic legislation. As for the average man, what he can do is keep intelligently informed, and spread his information to all his acquaintances. And maybe write to congress if you think that will influence the proper legislation. In the main, I do agree with Croutch's conclusion that we must not get hysterical, that we must stick to our jobs, etc. And I add to that we must do all we can to bring about international control of atomic energy, we must break down ideas of national sovereignty among the people we know, and for Ghu's sake try to counteract the present anti-Russian propaganda campaign which is now going on. It's a little easier for Croutch, way up in Ontario, to talk about building a den and planning otherwise for the future. It's harder to do that in Philadelphia,which is pretty near No. 1 target on the agenda. (The entire coast between New York and Washington is the most heavily industrialized part of the country.) But still, I don't think that's bothering people too much. Which in a way is not too good. They should get a little excited about it. If things break wrong most of the people will never understand what's been happening. (As I stencil this the rail strike is on, and the radio describes people as never really believing the thing would happen, despite so many warnings. The same thing will happen with the next war.) As for myself, altho I call myself a pessimist, I'm going blithely ahead like the most ruddy pollyana to do graduate work in physics at Penn. But .. as soon as I'm finished it's away from Philadelphia for me! Get a job at the University of Wyoming, or somewhere.
Saving...
prev
next
PLENUM Page fifteen And here's more about optimists and pessimists re atomic energy. Later reports on the LASFS indicate that everybody has been going off half-cocked about the Angeleno's attitude, but I can't resist a last word. I like very much the quotation from "Solution Unsatisfactory," which I re-read yesterday and it stood my hair on end, as follows: "What I liked about him, tho, was that, tho he was liberal, he was tough minded, which most liberals aren't. Most liberals believe that water runs downhill, but, praise god, it'll never reach the bottom." That also describes the "optimists" who believe that while things look tough, the world will muddle thru in some way. That ain't for me. I favor the tough-minded pessimists who say things look plenty tough, and they'll stay tough unless we do something about it. So I admire the scientists who have campaigned for proper atomic legislation. As for the average man, what he can do is keep intelligently informed, and spread his information to all his acquaintances. And maybe write to congress if you think that will influence the proper legislation. In the main, I do agree with Croutch's conclusion that we must not get hysterical, that we must stick to our jobs, etc. And I add to that we must do all we can to bring about international control of atomic energy, we must break down ideas of national sovereignty among the people we know, and for Ghu's sake try to counteract the present anti-Russian propaganda campaign which is now going on. It's a little easier for Croutch, way up in Ontario, to talk about building a den and planning otherwise for the future. It's harder to do that in Philadelphia,which is pretty near No. 1 target on the agenda. (The entire coast between New York and Washington is the most heavily industrialized part of the country.) But still, I don't think that's bothering people too much. Which in a way is not too good. They should get a little excited about it. If things break wrong most of the people will never understand what's been happening. (As I stencil this the rail strike is on, and the radio describes people as never really believing the thing would happen, despite so many warnings. The same thing will happen with the next war.) As for myself, altho I call myself a pessimist, I'm going blithely ahead like the most ruddy pollyana to do graduate work in physics at Penn. But .. as soon as I'm finished it's away from Philadelphia for me! Get a job at the University of Wyoming, or somewhere.
Hevelin Fanzines
sidebar
