-
- Hello all,
-
-
- I'd like to take brief moment to comment again on the
recent discussions
- surrounding Art Bell and Robert Stephens. As many of
you know, beginning
- this spring ISSO contracted Robert Stephens to design
a continuing series
- of art images depicting some of the ideas we'll be presenting
to the
- public later this year, and also to follow up on relationships
he
- established during his tenure as a contractor for aerospace
firms.
-
-
- We've concluded that recent developments in Robert's
campaign of dissent
- have crossed over the line of healthy scientific and
intellectual
- skepticism, and have descended into personal assaults
that are
- unprofessional and incompatible with ISSO's expectation
of the public
- demeanor of its contractors. Thus, his contract has been
ended.
-
-
- Echoing a concern that Mr. Stephens and many others have
rightly voiced,
- ISSO takes issue with a few of Art Bell's guests' extreme
and irrational
- views on "anomalies" and the institutional
response thereto. Particularly
- at this time, upon the 30th anniversary of the first
human footprint on
- another world, we must pause in deep respect for and
admiration of the
- staggering accomplishments of our institutions of collective
achievement.
- The men and women of NASA propelled a few lucky representatives
of
- humanity to the moon, and returned them home safely --
an amazingly brave
- first step for a young species passionate about learning
and exploration.
-
-
- Art has indicated that he is working work to raise his
program's
- journalistic stature to a higher level, and that he will
more clearly
- articulate the distinction between reporting and entertainment.
Given this
- direction, ISSO will have no problem regularly communicating
important
- research initiatives and results directly to Art's audience.
-
-
- Robert Stephens is an exceptionally talented artist,
and I hope to see
- more of his work over time. I will be including the images
he's worked on
- so far in ISSO's materials as planned. And I appreciate
his generosity and
- diligence in connecting me with folks whose paths he's
crossed.
-
-
- In any event, ISSO personnel cannot remotely afford the
time to be
- distracted by personal disputes. We're pressing forward
on many important
- fronts, which we'll be sharing with you later this month.
-
-
- Very best,
-
-
- Joe Firmage
- __________________________________________
-
-
- Chairman, Int'l Space Sciences Organization
-
|
