There is no sound in the airless vacuum of space, and thus no music can be heard there. It follows that music is of no value.
The universe is large, our home planet is tiny in proportion, and weddings are not performed in outer space. Therefore, marital fidelity is of no value.
The overwhelming majority of planets in our solar system have no poets living on them. Therefore, poetry is of no value.
Very nearly the entire universe is incapable of sustaining life. It follows that life is insignificant.
What's that, are you saying that my above statements make no sense? But, but, but, but I'm highly proficient in Russian-language studies! Doesn't my expertise in ONE field make me an expert in ALL fields?
You say it doesn't?
Well, then, perhaps the scientific expertise of Neil DeGrasse Tyson ALSO does not qualify him to speak with authority on all other subjects.
Near the very end of his book "Astrophysics for People in a Hurry," Tyson expects to be regarded as profound when he says, "The cosmic perspective reminds us that in space, where there is no air, a flag will not wave-- an indication that perhaps flag-waving and space exploration do not mix."
Tyson must have liked the recent revisionist-history movie which tried to convince us that the first manned moon landing WASN'T the achievement of one PARTICULAR nation. But as a doctrinaire atheist, he ought to pay attention to the real universe-- and IN this real universe, it was precisely flag-waving national pride which DID propel America's manned space program.
Yeah, airless space is airless, well duh. But I fail to see how this fact nullifies the value of a society which believes in the rule of law, believes in individual opportunity, and believes in the right to dissent. Quite a few other societies on Earth DON'T believe in any of those principles. Does Doctor Tyson really think that he himself would be just as well off living under a dictatorship as living in a nation which respects his rights?
I really don't care to have Tyson stumbling outside his competence to tell me that my country cannot possibly be morally better than some others.
