Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to re: Converging points of views

Does it matter?
ER — (archived)

That the British and French would agree on a position critical of the United States does not surprise me. Even I, an American who is very often critical of his country's policies, am amazed at the European hatred and envy of the US and distrust of everything American. And I speak not of those obvious political and economic policies where one would expect conflict, but even in insignificant and ridiculous cultural questions like this one.

There is no great debate in America about the status of Pluto. The majority of Americans do not fully understand the distinction between a planet and a star anyway and this issue has no interest to them, it is of importance to scientists and people like us who are knowlegeable and interested in science, but we certainly understand the nomenclature is strictly arbitrary and by convention. The ONLY thing that makes Pluto distinct as a celestial object is that it shares the name of a Disney character which is fondly remembered by adults today from their childhood animated cartoons. I doubt if today's children are even familiar with it. There is no significance or importance to the issue of naming Pluto, either scientific, cultural or political. The fact that Europeans see it as something so sinister IS significant.

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