vonBraun epigraph

[Paul Mackin]

On 11 Jun 1995, G. Schmundt-Thomas wrote:

> Simply equating either Wernher von Braun or the (mock?) quote in GR with fascism
> seems reductionist. The techno romanticism in the quote you can find in any
> visionary engagement with technology, e.g. science fiction. Think of William
> Gibson's work, for instance (the idea of a data "construct" as virtual
> immortality), or for that matter in any "romantic" engagement with technology.
> It may seem to resonate with Nazi ideology but is clearly not confined to it.
> As for von Braun's "pact with the devil" in Nazi Germany to get the rocket
> program off the ground, it was not all that different from what he did later in
> the U.S. In addition, this fall from innocence was not at all different than
> that of other scientist/engineers (e.g. Oppenheimer, who nobody would call a
> Nazi).
> The personality and biography of von Braun too complex to be explained with a
> handy label like the one you use. To be sure, as implied figure in GR he would
> be more than just a comic book figure.

Maybe my hypothesis of the epigramatic von Braun overtly displaying 
fascist tendencies is . . . ,well, full of hooey. Did think I heard the 
distinct sound of rocket power plunging us (some of us) through the zero 
into life everlasting. 

				Pablo