[Leps-l] NYTimes article on the NABA butterfly park

[Metzler, Eric H.]

I suggest I made no comments on politics. When I reread what I wrote the word the word politics is nowhere to be found.

I suggested these events are simply signs of the times. My politics (unstated in my comments) are neither to the left nor to the right. I prefer no extremism, rather I hope for critical thinking. I encourage us to engage in such thinking and to pass it on.

Thank you for the opportunity to further explain my point of view.

Eric
Eric H. Metzler

________________________________
From: Roger Kuhlman <rkuhlman at hotmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 6, 2022 11:34 PM
To: Metzler, Eric H. <MetzlerEH at si.edu>; Leps List <leps-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: Re: [Leps-l] NYTimes article on the NABA butterfly park


External Email - Exercise Caution

I think all this talking about Not Following the Science and Science is the intellectual enemy only amounts to Extremist Leftist Political Propagandizing for Leftist Political Power. I find it very offensive and wish to not see it in intelligent discussions of butterflies, their natural habitats, and ways of life. Do you think we can cool this line of politics?

Sincerely,
Roger Kuhlman
Ann Arbor, Michigan
________________________________
From: Leps-l <leps-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> on behalf of Metzler, Eric H. <MetzlerEH at si.edu>
Sent: Sunday, February 6, 2022 7:37 PM
To: Mike Quinn <entomike at gmail.com>; Leps-L <leps-l at mailman.yale.edu>; TXBL <TX-BUTTERFLY at listserv.uh.edu>; TXENTO <TX-ENTO at listserv.uh.edu>
Subject: Re: [Leps-l] NYTimes article on the NABA butterfly park

I attribute this situation to a weird association of butterflies and science where science is the intellectual enemy.

I suggest our educational system is failing us by not ensuring students learn critical thinking.  The conspiracy theorists were always there yet remained below the surface until emboldened by the thinking of the administration between 2016 and 2020. In my department back in the 1980s one of my colleagues and close friends would return from meetings with the folks who used our research and accumulated knowledge to teach. He would return to his office and always say "Fictitious but true." There are facts and there is the truth. Each person must decide based upon their education and indoctrination, at home, at school, socially, and church if they attend one. In our small city of 35,000 people, 2/3 are right-wing well-meaning people, and less than 50% are vaccinated. There is one very low wattage church chat show. I regularly listen because I want to know what the 2/3 right leaning people are hearing. The stuff that is broadcast is scary. One so-called news-on-the-hour broadcast said people should not get vaccinated for COVID because every vaccinated person dies. No doubt a true statement and reveals no critical thinking.

I work hard to teach my students to research and think. I touch so few students compared to the thousands of people who join the masses of conspiracy theorists. My former neighbor, a very nice man, from across the street insisted planes from China were flying overhead daily to spread the COVID virus. Then in the next sentence he said COVID doesn't exist. Critical thinking? I think not. I recently attended his funeral after COVID caused his death.

>From sunny southern New Mexico.

Eric
Eric H. Metzler
________________________________
From: Leps-l <leps-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> on behalf of Mike Quinn <entomike at gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 6, 2022 4:47 PM
To: Leps-L <leps-l at mailman.yale.edu>; TXBL <TX-BUTTERFLY at listserv.uh.edu>; TXENTO <TX-ENTO at listserv.uh.edu>
Subject: [Leps-l] NYTimes article on the NABA butterfly park


External Email - Exercise Caution

How the National Butterfly Center Became the Center of Online Lies - The New York Times https://nyti.ms/3otxXeB<https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnyti.ms%2F3otxXeB&data=04%7C01%7CMetzlerEH%40si.edu%7Cc499c39896a24de8c34d08d9ea03d9d0%7C989b5e2a14e44efe93b78cdd5fc5d11c%7C0%7C0%7C637798125239785857%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=tSOy5KoxplQFjSJFORRvAETUtjMQCrcoIhewkTERZAU%3D&reserved=0>

Mike Quinn, Austin
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