Calm down
I'm all for community activism and for casting a careful eye on projects like the proposed NABF, but something about AthensFAQ seems a little too disingenuous for me.
For starters, the ad is terribly misleading and, by using stock photos of random masked law enforcement officials, is only seeking to terrify the community enough to say 'no' to what is a project that deserves serious consideration.
And I'm glad to see serious people working to make sure a rationale and informed debate is held over this, rather than borderline hysterical conspiracy theories (which is why I've been bothered by Edward Hammond throughout this whole thing ... to have the audacity to directly dispute what will and will not be studied at this proposed facility, without having any inkling of factual evidence to back up his claims, is beyond irresponsible ... so kudos to Dr. Corrie Brown).
Furthermore, it seems as if Hammond is more interested in creating a fictitious environment for him to operate in. If NABF was openly stating that it was going to be investing in weaponizing, say, the Ebola virus, than arguably that would be something we should not want to come here (or practice as a country). But that isn't the case, and what Hammond is doing is trying to advance this not-backed-up-by-reality notion that type of activity could go on here ... just because he says so.
The fact that so many folks in town have somewhat bought into this is disheartening.
Listen, if you don't want to see NABF here, then that's fine. But it would seem to me that you need a better argument against it than the one that AthensFAQ and Hammond are pushing out there.
For what it's worth, much of the evidence out there seems to suggest that NABF would, on the whole, be a positive thing for Athens-Clarke County ... from a research angle and an economic angle, all the while posing minimal to no threat to the surrounding environment.
For starters, the ad is terribly misleading and, by using stock photos of random masked law enforcement officials, is only seeking to terrify the community enough to say 'no' to what is a project that deserves serious consideration.
And I'm glad to see serious people working to make sure a rationale and informed debate is held over this, rather than borderline hysterical conspiracy theories (which is why I've been bothered by Edward Hammond throughout this whole thing ... to have the audacity to directly dispute what will and will not be studied at this proposed facility, without having any inkling of factual evidence to back up his claims, is beyond irresponsible ... so kudos to Dr. Corrie Brown).
Furthermore, it seems as if Hammond is more interested in creating a fictitious environment for him to operate in. If NABF was openly stating that it was going to be investing in weaponizing, say, the Ebola virus, than arguably that would be something we should not want to come here (or practice as a country). But that isn't the case, and what Hammond is doing is trying to advance this not-backed-up-by-reality notion that type of activity could go on here ... just because he says so.
The fact that so many folks in town have somewhat bought into this is disheartening.
Listen, if you don't want to see NABF here, then that's fine. But it would seem to me that you need a better argument against it than the one that AthensFAQ and Hammond are pushing out there.
For what it's worth, much of the evidence out there seems to suggest that NABF would, on the whole, be a positive thing for Athens-Clarke County ... from a research angle and an economic angle, all the while posing minimal to no threat to the surrounding environment.
posted by Jmac at 5:38 PM
5 Comments:
Spot on.
Let's not also forget that Hammond and his two-man non-profit make money by traveling the country and talking about this stuff. One thing we learnt from Watergate was to follow the money. Hammond says that those who are pushing this are only in it for the money --yeah, the Mayor and Commission, UGA, the Chamber of Commerce, the Bush Admin are all in bed together as part of some big conspiracy! Hammond himself is making money from his opposition. Think about it!
anybody who has ever seen the Men In Black movies or watch X Files knows what could be happening here!
The truth is out there.
Last time I looked both Men in Black and X Files were Hollywood films/ shows for entertainment. I know we live in an age of infotainment, but let's talk about NBAF based on facts, not some inflated Hollywoodized view of what scientists and the gub'ment does...
Not only is it disheartening that many residents in ACC are buying into this tomfoolery, but, perhaps more tellingly, some people miss out on sarcasm when it is in plain view. It is a sad day in America.
So, we want to create a higher quality of life in Athens... and not just for those at Five Points or the Boulevard, but for those in Rocksprings and the Triangle. So, what do we need? Everybody says more jobs. But, as businesses and federal agencies come callin', looking for land to build enormous facilities that will undoubtedly require staffing (you know... jobs) some of my fellow Athenians immediately go all NIMBY! NIMBY! NIMBY!
So, which is it? Do you want jobs that pay good wages and will attract other similar businesses as your city becomes a leading Bio/medical research center like the Research Triangle in North Carolina... or do you just want to pay lip service to bettering the quality of life for Athenians... you know, ALL Athenians, and not just those that are like you?
This is something I've needed to get off my chest for a while. Thanks, JMac, for the forum.
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