From: "Frank Ward" 
To: 
Cc: "Krajci Tom J Maj 27OSS/IN" 
Reply-To: "Frank Ward" 



Tom said:

"This assignment has given me the most culture shock I've ever
had...and in some ways it's not getting better with time."

I reply to wit:

When John Dobson walked out into the world a free man he had a lot of
decisions to make that had previously been made for him by the monastic
order.

We ATMs owe him a debt of gratitude for inventing the Dobson configuration
of mirror and eyepiece on a stable, self propelled Alt/Az mounting. Why
then do we
completely ignore his real work? John used his genius to design a telescope
with innate stability as a tool to bring to the common man the views we as
"privileged people" have enjoyed thru the centuries. Printing did
the same
thing. It took from the enclave of the elate and gave to mankind access to knowledge.

I wrote to a friend in Europe the other day and included the line, "We
live in different worlds, but enjoy the same heavens at night." That's
what John wanted to do when he invented his "better mousetrap".
We ATMs, most of us, have focused on improving the mouse trap and ignored
its purpose. I personally
have been quite selfish. I use my scope and enjoy myself. How much more useful
I would be in society if I just carried it up the block to a cul de sac and
set up there. What a summer evening I could provide for my neighbors by
showing
them Mars instead of selfishly keeping the view in my own head, gloating over the
fact that I saw it up close and personal. That makes me feel important, how childish.

John had the right idea, but he was a genius, and the Sidewalk Astronomers were
not scientists. I have failed in my humanity when I think only of my own well
being.

Tom, you might be experiencing culture shock across the world but history shows
us that where ever we Americans go improvements in living follow. Sometimes
because of our >badgood<
example, but invariably
improvements follow, but rarely because of anything we say, just what we do.

There are many different ways to skin a cat besides shoving butter up its ass.
I for one am going to find a cul de sac in the next week and share my view of
the heavens with people I don't even know. I don't think any of the kids will
criticize my truss configuration and suggest improvements. Most of them
will just say, "Wow". Maybe that's my problem. I haven't been
saying "Wow" enough lately.

Frank Ward
Atlanta, GA
(rainy and overcast today)

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5