Hi folks At this time, I am reminded of Martin Niemöller’s poem…
Harry > On 16 Mar 2025, at 10:32, Navdeep Sidhu <sid...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Dear Colleagues, > > > What can one say beyond "Shameless sexism, racism and ableism"? Perhaps this: > > > "To omit or to minimize [the] voices of resistance is to create the idea that > power only rests with those who have the guns, who possess the wealth, who > own the newspapers and the television stations. I want to point out that > people who seem to have no power, whether working people, people of color, or > women—once they organize and protest and create movements—have a voice no > government can suppress.” > -- Howard Zinn, from the Introduction to "Voices of a People’s History of > the United States" > <https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/voices-of-a-peoples-history-of-the-united-states/> > > > And this: > > "Don't mourn. Organize." > -- Wobbly songwriter Joe Hill > > > By the way, George Orwell's own introduction to "1984" was successfully > suppressed for decades because in it he'd lamented self-censorship in > Britain. The Kommissar lives within us too. > > But there are cultures in which this wasn't so, including aboriginal cultures > in North America, who understood the idea of "freedom" better. It's thought > they were likely behind the ideas of the European Enlightenment. > > > Diversely, with best wishes, > Navdeep > Germany > > > --- > On 13.03.25 19:24, David J. Schuller wrote: >> https://gizmodo.com/we-are-witnessing-a-new-brain-drain-as-scientists-flee-america-for-france-2000575654 >> >> <https://gizmodo.com/we-are-witnessing-a-new-brain-drain-as-scientists-flee-america-for-france-2000575654> >> *‘We Are Witnessing a New Brain Drain’ as Scientists Flee America for France* >> ======================================================================= >> All Things Serve the Beam >> ======================================================================= >> David J. Schuller >> modern man in a post-modern world >> MacCHESS, Cornell University >> schul...@cornell.edu >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> *From:* CCP4 bulletin board <CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK> on behalf of V. >> Nagarajan <tato...@gmail.com> >> *Sent:* Thursday, March 13, 2025 09:43 >> *To:* CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK <CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK> >> *Subject:* Re: [ccp4bb] Words to avoid >> Here’s an article from ProPublica, explaining how they used AI to search >> through some 3,400 research grants called “woke” by Texas senator Ted Cruz: >> GettyImages-1097249104.jpg >> link.propublica.net >> <https://link.propublica.net/view/652e85710205761260069218n7d7l.31ll/c6f60ac7> >> <https://link.propublica.net/view/652e85710205761260069218n7d7l.31ll/c6f60ac7> >> From the article: ‘Among them: a $470,000 grant to study the evolution of >> mint plants and how they spread across continents. As best Philip and Song >> could tell, the project was flagged because of two specific words used in >> its application to the NSF: “diversify,” referring to the biodiversity of >> plants, and “female,” where the application noted how the project would >> support a young female scientist on the research team. >> Another involved developing a device that could treat severe bleeding. It >> included the words “victims” — as in gunshot victims — and “trauma.”‘ >> V. Nagarajan >>> On Mar 13, 2025, at 5:13 AM, ΕΜΜΑΝΟΥΗΛ ΣΑΡΕΙΔΑΚΗΣ >>> <000100730073ca33-dmarc-requ...@jiscmail.ac.uk> wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>> The problem is not to ensure confidentiality of what one writes. It is to >>> ensure that one can write publicly (within some limits, see below) without >>> fear. >>> >>> To go back to the original conversation, I think we have here an example of >>> a “pendulum effect”. The onslaught on what cannot be said started on the >>> “progressist”, “woke”, “politically correct” side, as explained in the >>> article forwarded yesterday on this thread by Bryan Lepore. These people >>> were well-meant, on a high moral ground and earnestly dedicated to >>> rectifying earlier iniquities. Nevertheless, as often happens with >>> well-meant actions, these initiatives quickly degenerated, in this case >>> into rather indiscriminate censorship, nonsensical grammar (ungrammatical >>> pronouns and the like) and sometimes worse. >>> >>> Then, the pendulum swung, and the “progressist” bigots were replaced by the >>> real ones, who are not on a moral high ground, but are feeding on the >>> mistrust and outrage generated by the previous status quo. The real bigots >>> are of course many times worse than the ones that became so by excessive >>> enthusiasm, and this is what we are seeing now (mostly in the US for the >>> moment, but it’s spreading). >>> >>> So, I think the questions to ask are: is any form of censorship acceptable >>> and, if yes, to what extent? My answer to the first question is yes: any >>> bigot Right and Left should not be allowed to go around spreading lies and >>> victimising people. The US has been in many cases an example of too little >>> censorship: it is one of the most tolerant places in the West for those who >>> are openly Neonazi for example. The answer to the second question must be: >>> censorship should be tolerated to the least possible extent, it must be >>> well-vetted, well-justified and liable to questioning, challenge and >>> rational revision at all times. Ideally, it should also have some rapport >>> with a somewhat objective notion of truth. Given the strained relationship >>> of the present US Government with all the above concepts, I have little >>> hope. >>> >>> Emmanuel >>> >>> Dr. Emmanuel Saridakis >>> Institute of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology >>> National Centre for Scientific Research "DEMOKRITOS" >>> Athens 15341, Greece. >>> >>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>> *From: *David <dgwater...@gmail.com> >>> *To: *CCP4BB <CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK> >>> *Date: *Thursday, 13 March 2025 12:10 PM EET >>> *Subject: *Re: [ccp4bb] Words to avoid >>> >>> I guess I should remind subscribers that the CCP4BB has a public >>> archive, at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=ccp4bb >>> <https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=ccp4bb>. >>> On a personal note, I always appreciate the courage of those who >>> call out the bullshit in the world, and I've enjoyed the eloquent >>> messages in this thread (though the content is depressing). >>> Best wishes, >>> David >>> >>> On Wed, 12 Mar 2025, 21:04 Katherine Sippel, >>> <katherine.sip...@gmail.com <mailto:katherine.sip...@gmail.com>> >>> wrote: >>> >>> My response was more of a suggestion to make sure these >>> types of conversations are held via a personal email where >>> "The Man" would require sufficient probable cause for a judge >>> to issue a warrant rather than an institutional email that >>> does not have such a barrier. That being said, I have had more >>> than one work email recently where I asked myself "would you >>> want to have to defend this in front of a McCarthy-esque >>> congressional inquest" and made a phone call instead. So, >>> you're completely right. Thank you for the gut check. >>> Cheers, >>> Kat >>> >>> On Wed, Mar 12, 2025 at 2:31 PM Artem Evdokimov >>> <artem.evdoki...@gmail.com <mailto:artem.evdoki...@gmail.com>> >>> wrote: >>> >>> The first thing that happens as freedom of speech dies is >>> that diligent self censorship becomes the norm. People >>> acquire a Komissar inside their heads. >>> >>> When I was a kid, my parents had to remind me daily not to >>> share with school kids the jokes told at home because >>> 'mommy does not want to go to Gulag'. >>> >>> Word to the wise. >>> >>> Artem >>> >>> >>> On Wed, Mar 12, 2025, 15:21 Katherine Sippel >>> <katherine.sip...@gmail.com >>> <mailto:katherine.sip...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>> >>> I love this conversation. It is an important one right >>> now that addresses the intersection between the >>> precise language needed to communicate science and the >>> greater zeitgeist around politicization of vocabulary. >>> It will be interesting to see how the etymology of >>> scientific language migrates in response to this >>> selective pressure. >>> However, if you will allow me to put on my tinfoil hat >>> for a moment, I feel compelled to remind the faculty >>> from publicly funded universities in the US that your >>> institutional emails may be subject to Freedom of >>> Information Act requests. I was at the University of >>> Florida when the Organic Consumers Association decided >>> to go after Kevin Folta via US Right to Know, and it >>> was nasty. I would not put it past the administration >>> to weaponize FOIA requests in the future to root out >>> dissent among US academics. Just something to consider >>> when engaging in these types of conversations. >>> Cheers, >>> Kat Sippel, PhD, ELS >>> >>> On Wed, Mar 12, 2025 at 1:41 PM Harry Powell >>> <0000193323b1e616-dmarc-requ...@jiscmail.ac.uk >>> <mailto:0000193323b1e616-dmarc-requ...@jiscmail.ac.uk>> >>> wrote: >>> >>> "_golf_ of America” particularly apt with current >>> POTUS… >>> >>> Harry >>> >>> > On 12 Mar 2025, at 17:49, Oganesyan, Vaheh >>> <vaheh.oganes...@astrazeneca.com >>> <mailto:vaheh.oganes...@astrazeneca.com>> wrote: >>> > >>> > You never know what is on their minds >>> (Musk&Don). Would you guess anything related to >>> Greenland before hearing it, or golf of America? >>> > >>> > Vaheh >>> > >>> > From: CCP4 bulletin board <CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK >>> <mailto:CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK>> On Behalf Of Harry >>> Powell >>> > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2025 1:30 PM >>> > To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK >>> <mailto:CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK> >>> > Subject: Re: [ccp4bb] Words to avoid >>> > >>> > I don’t thnk that’s why it’s been banned... >>> > >>> > > On 12 Mar 2025, at 17:09, Ian Tickle >>> <ianj...@gmail.com <mailto:ianj...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > --------- Forwarded message --------- >>> > > From: Ian Tickle <ianj...@gmail.com >>> <mailto:ianj...@gmail.com>> >>> > > Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2025, 14:08 >>> > > Subject: Re: [ccp4bb] Words to avoid >>> > > To: Herbert J. Bernstein <yaya...@gmail.com >>> <mailto:yaya...@gmail.com>> >>> > > >>> > > I spell it 'polarisation' anyway (from Late >>> Latin 'Stella Polaris' = 'Pole Star'). >>> > > >>> > > Cheers >>> > > >>> > > -- Ian >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > On Tue, 11 Mar 2025, 20:00 Herbert J. >>> Bernstein, <yaya...@gmail.com >>> <mailto:yaya...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>> > > Dear Colleagues, >>> > > When I got home today, Frances presented me >>> with an article from the >>> > > NY Times which contained the attached list of >>> words and the explanation, >>> > > "As President Trump seeks to purge the federal >>> government of "woke" initiatives, agencies have >>> flagged hundreds of words to limit or avoid, >>> > > according to a compilation of government >>> documents." >>> > > For this audience in particular, please note >>> that "Mx", "polarization", "orientation", >>> "status", "systemic". "discrimination", >>> "equality", "expression", "barriers", and "bias" >>> are among the words to avoid. Care should be >>> > > taken in writing proposals and reports since >>> AIs may be used for screening >>> > > and they are' likely to miss explanatory context. >>> > > Regard, >>> > > Herbert >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > To unsubscribe from the CCP4BB list, click the >>> following link: >>> > > >>> >>> https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=CCP4BB&A=1 >>> <https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=CCP4BB&A=1> >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > To unsubscribe from the CCP4BB list, click the >>> following link: >>> > > >>> >>> https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=CCP4BB&A=1 >>> <https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=CCP4BB&A=1> >>> > > >>> > >>> > >>> >>> ######################################################################## >>> > >>> > To unsubscribe from the CCP4BB list, click the >>> following link: >>> > >>> >>> https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=CCP4BB&A=1 >>> <https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=CCP4BB&A=1> >>> > >>> > This message was issued to members of >>> www.jiscmail.ac.uk/CCP4BB >>> <http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/CCP4BB>, a mailing list >>> hosted by www.jiscmail.ac.uk >>> <http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/>, terms & conditions >>> are available at >>> https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/policyandsecurity/ >>> <https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/policyandsecurity/> >>> > >>> > Confidentiality Notice: This message is private >>> and may contain confidential and proprietary >>> information. 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