NASA Administrator Charles Bolden says that President BO has told him that it is his mission to reach out Muslim nations and make them feel good about their historic contribution to science and engineering.In this, President BO's mandate is an absolute outrage.
This man you liberals elected is so sophomoric as to be unable to separate the purposes of one agency from another.
Being the one to want to teach new things, I provide here a list of the scientific and engineering innovations and inventions of the Muslim nations over the last 100 years:
1. No, wait...that's not one.
2. Ummm....no.
3. Er, ah....
4. Oops...wrong nation
(Feel free to add to this list in my comments section)
And here is a video illustrating the deep intelligence of Islam and their devotion to scientific and engineering truth (you have to read fast...use the pause button to read some of the sub-titles):
27 comments:
The babblings from one idiot interview does not prove that the Arabs never contributed anything to the arts and science. Taking that vid as evidence of anything would be like using Pat Robertson's idiot statements on gays as coming from God Almighty.
But since you couldn't come up with anything the Arabs contributed to world culture and science, I'll help you along. Funny, I learned all about this stuff in junior high school. You must have been absent when it was taught:
MATHEMATICS
In mathematics, the Arab sifr, or zero, provided new solutions for complicated mathematical problems. The Arabic numeral — an improvement on the original Hindu concept — and the Arab decimal system facilitated the course of science. The Arabs invented and developed algebra and made great strides in trigonometry. Al-Khwarizmi, credited with the founding of algebra, was inspired by the need to find a more accurate and comprehensive method of ensuring precise land divisions so that the Koran could be carefully obeyed in the laws of inheritance. The writings of Leonardo da Vinci, Leonardo Fibonacci of Pisa, and Master Jacob of Florence show the Arab influence on mathematical studies in European universities. The reformation of the calendar, with a margin of error of only one day in five thousand years, was also a contribution of Arab intellect.
ASTRONOMY
Like algebra, the astrolabe was improved with religion in mind. It was used to chart the precise time of sunrises and sunsets, and to determine the period for fasting during the month of Ramadan, Arab astronomers of the Middle Ages compiles astronomical charts and tables in observatories such as those at Palmyra and Maragha. Gradually, they were able to determine the length of a degree, to establish longitude and latitude, and to investigate the relative speeds of sound and light. Al-Biruni, considered one of the greatest scientists of all time, discussed the possibility of the earth‘s rotation on its own axis — a theory proven by Galileo six centuries later. Arab astronomers such as al-Fezari, al-Farghani, and al-Zarqali added to the works of Ptolemy and the classic pioneers in the development of the magnetic compass and the charting of the zodiac. Distinguished astronomers from all over the world gathered to work at Maragha in the thirteenth century.
MEDICINE
In the field of medicine, the Arabs improved upon the healing arts of ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt.
Al-Razi, a medical encyclopedist of the ninth century, was an authority on contagion. Among his many volumes of medical surveys, perhaps the most famous is the Kitab al-Mansuri. It was used in Europe until the sixteenth century. Al-Razi was the first to diagnose smallpox and measles, to associate these diseases and others with human contamination and contagion, to introduce such remedies as mercurial ointment, and to use animal gut for sutures.
The famous scientist-philosopher known in Europe as Avicenna was Ibn Sina, an Arab. He was the greatest writer of medicine in the Middle Ages, and his Canon was required reading throughout Europe until the seventeenth century. Avicenna did pioneer work in mental health, and was a forerunner of today‘s psychotherapists. He believed that some illnesses were psychosomatic, and he sometimes led patients back to a recollection of an incident buried in the subconscious in order to explain the present ailment.
In the fourteenth Century, when the Great Plague ravaged the world, Ibn Khatib and Ibn Khatima of Granada recognized that it was spread by contagion. In his book, Kitabu‘l Maliki, al-Maglusi showed a rudimentary conception of the capillary system; an Arab from Syria, Ibn al-Nafis, discovered the fundamental principles of pulmonary circulation.
Camphor, cloves, myrrh, syrups, juleps, and rosewater were stocked in Arab sydaliyah (pharmacies) centuries ago. Herbal medicine was widely used in the Middle East, and basil, oregano, thyme, fennel, anise, licorice, coriander, rosemary, nutmeg, and cinnamon found their way through Arab pharmacies to European tables.
ARCHITECTURE
As with astronomy and mathematics, the great purpose of early Arab architecture was to glorify Islam. Architects devoted their skills primarily to the building of mosques and mausoleums. They borrowed the horseshow arch from the Romans, developed it into their own unique style, and made it an example for the architecture of Europe. The Great Mosque of Damascus, built in the 4early eighth century, is a beautiful demonstration of the use of the horseshoe arch. The mosque of Ibn Tulun in Cairo, with its pointed arches, was the inspiration behind the building of many magnificent cathedrals in Europe.
Arab cusp, tefoil, and ogee arches provided models for the Tudor arch such as those used in the cathedrals of Wells in England and Chartres in France. The Muslin minaret, itself inspired by the Greek lighthouse, became the campanile in Europe. One of the most famous examples of this can be seen in the San Marcos Square in Venice.
Designs from the Islamic mosques of Jerusalem, Mecca, Tripoli, Cairo, Damascus, and Constantinople were borrowed in the building of ribbed vaults in Europe. The Arab use of cubal transitional supports under domes was incorporated into the cathedrals and palaces of eleventh and twelfth century Palermo.
Arab styles were elegant and daring. Arabesque designs, calligraphy, and explosions of color can be seen today in such structures as the Lion Court of the Alhambra Palace in Granada, the Great Mosque of Cordoba, and many of the great medieval religious and civic buildings of Europe.
While we as Westerners are more familiar with the influence of Arab architecture of the Romance countries of Spain, Italy and France, we do not often remember that the Arab empires reached into Eastern Europe and Asia as well. Startling remnants of a once powerful conquest are particularly prevalent in Russia. The brilliant blue tiled done of the Mosque of Bibi Khanum, Timu‘s (Tamerlane) favorite wife, catches the visitor‘s eye in Samarkand. Here, as well as in the complex of tombs called Shah-I-Zinda (the Living Prince), much of the old beauty is being returned to its former elegance through restoration.
SK: "Taking that vid as evidence of anything would be like using Pat Robertson's idiot statements on gays as coming from God Almighty."
You might be surprised to know that I think the two were poured from the same mold.
Of course, in typical fashion, you misrepresent my question, which had to do with the last 100 years, not all of perpetuity.
Furthermore, it clearly (by use of the underline) indicated NATIONS, because that is the word used by President BO in his charge to Charles Bolden.
Not only that, the president's mandate was dircted at Muslimism, not Arabism.
I'll give you architecture, but that was not a subject of my post.
Besides, the emphasis was on President BO's assignment of the topic to NASA, a place it simply does not belong by any form of logic whatsoever.
The video was just funny...that's all.
I don't expect you to understand, however. You are hereby excused.
There is none so blind as she who will not see.
There's more here.
and here.
Joe, I'm shocked that you didn't know that the Arabs gave us algebra, among other things, because I thought that would be the first thing anyone would think of as a contribution to mathematics.
Within the last 22 years we've seen 2 Nobel Literature prizes for Muslims:
Orham Pamuk
Naguib Mahfouz
Glad I could be of help...
Ooops, I didn't see your post back to me.
And I admit I did not see "the last 100 years." But why did you impose that time limit? Do you do so on other nations?
But if I do the research, I'm betting I could find people from Muslim nations who have achieved science and engineering innovations over the last 100 years.
BTW, "nations" don't innovate and invent, their people do.
un real eh! come to WHT to work up an appetite..heh
Maybe he should also have him reach out to the Muslim nations to make them feel good about their empowerment to women.
I guess the good outweighs the bad if you are anything other than a white republican.
You know like being a former KKK member or leaving a woman at the bottom of a lake to drown or using the Oval Office as a Brothel.
You know minor things like that.
Yep we need to make them feel good aout their accomplishments but lets not call them out on the up coming stoning to death of a woman in Iran. Yeah we will keep silent about that.
Better yet let's reach out to them the way they've reached out to us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjGJPPRD3u0&feature=player_embedded
I'm laughing so hard it's hard to type! The guy with the towel on his head looks even more amazed than I AM to hear that stuff! WHO KNEW?!!!
By the way...why can liberal secularists paint Pat Robertson as a "Typical Christian nut" as they do so often, but Joe can't use this video as a blanket condemnation of islam?(if he would, which he obviously did not~!)?
So, SK, you think the "Foremost" job of NASA should be to celebrate islam's accomplishments, too??
I think the last 100 years are pertinent considering this is about NASA.
Nobody takes away from Arab contributions of years past.
And, I think the point is that islam has slid very far back into the dark ages through their religion's proddings.
Joe, good post. Of course, this is nothing NASA's director should be concentrating (or even considering)...nor should he necessarily be speaking on Al Jazeera. I just think he might have more to do, but then Obama's closing down so much, maybe he doesn't?
OOh, Lisa, you ROCK! :-)
Don't forget reaching out to MUSLIMS(how did this become a discussion about Arabs?)to praise them for their inventive uses for explosives.
Does this mean we'll only be able to land on the crescent moon? Not a very big target.
SK: Even after I explained the point of my article to you, you still ignored it.
Do you do that on purpose, or are you just too self-focused to do otherwise?
My point: NASA is the wrong agency to assign this task to.
"But why did you impose that time limit?"
Because it is my blog and I get to assign whatever limits I choose. I do not feel obligated to get your permission first.
"BTW, "nations" don't innovate and invent, their people do."
Guns don't kill people, people kill people....right?
Why would President BO assign this task to NASA?
"...I could find people from Muslim nations who have achieved science and engineering innovations..."
Then you would have had to respond to my actual post, which you don't seem often inclined to do.
Why is NASA the organization of choice to help Muslim nations feel good about their contributions to science and engineering?
If Muslim nations have been so successful at science and engineering, why do they need US to help them feel good about themselves?
Thanks Z you rock too hope you are doing well. I visited your blog when Maria did a tribute to Mr Z.
lisa: You make very good points. Somehow, to the liberal mind, although feminism is of utmost importance in this country, science and engineering trumps it in the Arab world.
They gave new meaning to the phrase, "Reach out and touch someone." Reciprocation seems fair.
Z: Are you really accusing SK of thinking?
LR: Is there a man in the crescent moon? Does he wear a towel on his head?
100 years was my choice because that is the functional history of flight. NASA would not exist without this advancement that achieved putting man on the moon.
Yes, I realize that launching a projectile into the atmosphere preceded flight. It is the Man Element that makes NASA what it is. The man element became possible with flight.
To the point -- NASA is a science based institute that should have no focus on sex, creed, culture, religion, nationality.........
Its focus should be on science, namely space and manned space flight.
"Z: Are you really accusing SK of thinking?"
You know, Joe, I come here because you do give me a chance to express my opinions and you push back and give just as good as you get.
But is it too much to ask you to quit with the insults? I don't insult you. I use sarcasm. Guilty. And yes, this is your blog and you can be as rude as you like, etc., etc., but what does that accomplish.
Win your arguments with ideas, not insults.
So Obama wants to reach out and make the Muslims feel good about themselves? Don't they have someone else to do that for them?
This is ridiculous. Shouldn't he be focusing on making Americans feel secure, safe, and working on the oil spill, our failing economy, etc. And yet, he wants to focus on the Muslims? If he is so fond of them, why doesn't he resign as president of the United States and run for Prime Minister of Pakistan, Iraq, or any Muslim nation?
I am sure they would welcome him with open arms! Then we could replace him with someone who KNOWS how to run a nation and start doing the job that he was hired to do.
tooshay Leticia!
SK: I did not insult you. I asked a question. You took the question and concluded an answer, which you then took as an insult. That is your problem.
My gift in life is snide, cynical sarcasm. I can out-sarcasm you any day of the week and twice on a Saturday afternoon.
Get over it.
(Oh...and feel free to express yourself here, as long as you keep it clean [which you have thus far]).
Leticia: Hadn't you heard? Touchy-feely is what it's all about.
Okay, Joe. Touche! When you answer my comments, I'll never accuse you of thinking either. :)
Ooo, I forgot to mention, Muslims, who make up 20 percent of the world’s population – have won only seven Nobel Prizes, while the Jewish Jewish population – 0.02 percent – has won 129 Nobel Prizes.
Muhammad was illiterate.
LR: He's quite an example for "his" people, isn't he?
Unfortunately, Joe, yep.
I think SK thinks...I just don't see why she went to your comment and responded to that but not to me?
I am not being unkind, hopefully, I just wonder how important she thought the NASA Dir. going to Al Jazeera is, and why our PRESIDENT would consider making muslims feel good is so 'foremost' in his thinking...that's our point...that's the outrage to most of us.
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