Stephen Hawking, one of the world’s leading scientists, has said he no longer feels welcome in the United States under Donald Trump’s administration.
“I would like to visit again and to talk to other scientists, but I fear that I may not be welcome,” Hawking said Monday in an interview on U.K. TV show Good Morning Britain.
“Trump was elected by people who felt disenfranchised by the governing elite in a revolt against globalization,” he added.
“His priority will be to satisfy his electorate, who are neither liberal nor that well informed.”
That last line is dead on.
I can't say that I blame Hawking for his attitude, there are certainly times I don't feel welcome here either, however it is incredibly upsetting to learn that people outside of this country now view it in such a negative light.
The history of America is as a place that welcomes scientific progress and those who make that progress possible.
At least that USED to be our history.
The presidency of Donald Trump is damaging America in ways that it may take us decades to completely understand.
Yes, we are a totally isolationist country by now. There was a conference of African affairs that was supposed to be happening this last weekend. NONE of the African participants was allowed into our country. NONE! Their visas all got denied at the last minute (4 days before the event) - even though NONE of the people came from any of the six banned countries.
ReplyDeleteAlso, there is a 17y/o (Muslim) teenager WHO IS A US CITIZEN - born and raised here - who was not allowed back into her own country after visiting overseas. The US Embassy has no appointment available until the end of March. Her parents will try again tomorrow, if they can board a plane home, but this last weekend, she was prevented from boarding (I actually believe her parents were allowed to board, but declined, because they did not want to leave her by herself in a foreign country).
https://www.indy100.com/article/africa-trade-meeting-african-visa-denied-us-travel-ban-global-economic-development-summit-7637666
DeleteMy brother in law, like my husband, is from Vietnam. He recently completed his Ph.D. in Structural Engineering at Leeds University in England. His dissertation was on how to make buildings and bridges He is now considered to be a world expert in the field. The United States needs my brother in law much much much more than than vice versa. But try convincing a Trump supporter of that. Fortunately, he doesn't want to come here, he is now a college professor in Asia. In today's climate, I might have tried to talk him out of coming here if he did want to.
ReplyDeleteoops, forgot something important in my first post. I meant to say he makes building and bridges "earthquake proof".
Delete^THIS!!!
DeleteHawking has stated several times that if it hadn't been for UK's national health system, he might not have been able to have lived as long as he has.
ReplyDeleteThink of a world without him, and his discoveries he made as an older adult.
How can anybody say they're pro-life, and at the same time be against universal health care? Health care should be one of a citizen's rights, and we are in one of the richest industrialized countries! "How will that be funded?" the assholes ask, while NEVER asking how that next war will be funded.
What a marvelous human being. He has contributed richness that DJT could never hope to 'buy' even if he could.
DeleteUnfortunately, if Hawking were to grace the U.S. with a visit, he would run the risk of an illegitimate president making fun of him; as Trump did to that reporter last summer.
Trump and his wretched repubs---out.
Universal healthcare---in.
Screw bringing on manufactured war. We already have a war on Americans' well being.
The cheapest way to go is to utilize the Medicare/Medicaid structure already in place and all would be insured.
Not exactly military strategy or rocket science.
Exactly.
DeleteIn Donald Trump's AmeriKKKa Hawking would have died long ago because the cost of his medical expenses would not have "been worth it" and he either would have no insurance or it would have been capped long ago.
Neil Gorsucks is starting his confirmation process. This is a man that has tried to put into case law the bare minimum required for disabled and special needs students for public education. Among other even more vile personal philosophies. He's trying to get by on charm and wit, but underlying that shiny façade is a cancer that could damage our courts for decades.
While the Democrats are being distracted by Comey and Ivanka, Gorsucks is slipping in.
Everything possible needs to be done to keep Gorsucks off the bench. Because he truly does SUCK!
I don't find Gorsuch charming or witty. His homesteads were rehearsed but came out as a sad attempt to be folksy. Anyone nominated by Trump is crooked.Pence as well. Pence could just be made of cardboard w a Clutch Cargo mouth.
Delete"Nor that well informed" indeed.
ReplyDeleteWE, the USA, were the ones that believed in educating our youth, starting right after the revolution.
ReplyDeleteWE invented railroads
WE invented radio
WE invented airplanes
WE invented rockets
WE invented transistors and integrated circuits
WE invented television
WE put the first man on the moon
WE invented the polio vaccine
WE invented the internet
because of our commitment to FREE education for ALL of our youth.
Today's Republicans want to change that:
they want to go to a voucher system that will benefit the rich and the religious at the expense of the poor those of other-than-Xtian persuasion.
Today's Republicans want to return to the dark ages; feudalism and state-sponsored church.
Their heroes are Ayn Rand and Vladimir Putin.
GOT THAT RIGHT^
DeleteScrew the 'religious' in America! They are the folks that have altered our country in a horrid manner.
DeleteCheck out, and listen closely to, those around you that 'say' they are 'christians' or 'religious'. You will find them to be the the most opinionated, racist, vulgar, liars and cheats that I don't relish being near!
The numbers of 'religious' or 'christians' is dropping substantially within our country. We are in the midst of major transformation in so many areas of our lives!
America is no longer the country it once was and Donald Trump and the Republican majority have brought that fact to the forefront.
Oh the vapors Gryphen! The vapors!
ReplyDeleteStephen Hawking, you are not alone. Many of us US citizens whose ancestors came here generations ago feel less and less welcome in our own country. On a daily basis we are left wondering what has happened to us or is it just a terrible dream.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
Both sides of my family have been here since the early 1700's but I've never felt any sense of "nationalism" or "patriotism".
DeleteI live here, yes it's America, it's kind of a fucked up place, our politics and world domination mandate are terrible, but some places are even more fucked up.
Guess Im saying it's my home but, meh, through accident of heritage and birth it's where I live. I don't fly a flag or sing the anthem or really even think about it but I guess Im glad that I'm here rather than in some places I've traveled to where you can't even get a decent beer or expresso.
How first world of you.
DeleteYep. I have occasion to invite international friends to events and conferences at a major US university- the answer lately is "I've suspended travel to the US for the next four years. Give me a call in 2020. Mostly Canadians, Aussies and Brits.
ReplyDelete12:21 PM, have no fear. Trump is not religious by any means. He worships only himself, and to a lesser degree, by extension, his kids. He will play both ends against the middle to his last gasp.
ReplyDeleteA Huffington Post editorial underscored this point today. Trump is atheist. I'm going to pull a Gryphen here and note this is what I've been saying all along.