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	I suggest that a root cause is the extreme polarization of 
public debate.  This seems to have increased dramatically, without 
pointing any fingers or naming names, in newspapers, the blogosphere, 
but probably more influentially and polarizing on, television. Every 
program, however thoughtful has to have the divergent opinion which 
even in a respectful way is polarizing. If we can somehow tone down 
the public debate in the body politic of not only of issues like 
global warming, stem cell research, evidence for evolution, etc, etc. 
This "screaming" has to have an effect on children and I suspect 
leads to the difficulties Thomas Martin refers to in his article.


Martin


>
>
>>Opinion
>>Your beliefs vs. the facts By Thomas W. Martin
>>Thu Jan 3, 3:00 AM ET
>>
>>
>>
>>Tempe, Ariz. - Twenty years ago, as a college freshman, I knew
>>precisely what it meant to be scientifically literate. In fact, I held
>>an objective measure in the palm of my hand, courtesy of E.D. Hirsch.
>>His book, "Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know," was
>>a bestselling paperback, and conveniently listed thousands of names,
>>terms, and phrases with which every educated person - he informed us -
>>should be familiar. . . . . .
>>

-- 
Martin Weiss, PhD
Science Interpretation
Consultant
New York Hall of Science

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