So on Friday, 3rd November 2006 Tony Blair revealed that he is a born-again apologist for Science. After spending his career ignoring Science and presiding over its demise in British culture, Blair has finally seen the error of his ways. Pity it's too late.
The Impressionist is pretty sure that Blair wouldn't know Science if he met it in his soup. Nor would Brown, Cameron, Campbell or any of the super rich «entrepreneurs» that they like to be seen with. Their problem, and hence our problem, is that they believe Science is some kind of engine of wealth; a cash generator. Blair also seems to believe that Scientific issues can be resolved by «rational debate». Wrong again. Science is not Law, nor is it Politics, nor Business. The rest mass of the electron will not be decided by committee or Whitehall decree.
Sadly, Blair's misconceptions are shared by the vast bulk of the Great British Public, who have decided to abrogate any responsibility for thinking to others. It was ever thus, but at least in the old days, Science as a profession was well respected. Who wants to be a geek nowadays when illiterate bimbettes can command national attention and obese fees for behaving like animals on reality TV?
Blair suggests that young people need celebrity scientists as role models and it's true that people are unable to see Science as distinct from Scientists. To be celebrated a scientist must fit a stereotype - be sartorially inept; sport a slight accent or speech impediment; be generally distracted. From Patrick Moore's monocle to Albert Einstein's tongue, the word is loopy. The modern scientist has taken on the role of the ancient monk, expiating our sins of wooly thinking, while wearing a suit from Marks and Sparks.
The disciplines that have saved millions of lives, enabled mass communication, heated and lighted our lives are now taken for granted, as if they are a right rather than a precious gift to be treasured and nurtured. These are what has been the Triumph of the West.
We stand at a crossroads - we can go the stars or we can go to hell. Don't leave it to people like Blair to decide.
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