Restoring Research Funding to Harvard


This article caught my attention today and I believe it is a solid ruling

 https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-federal-funding-bdde8f529f01b96d5521d0e248e8fc6c

My background is in science (Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Texas at Arlington).  As a Registered Nurse I have been involved in FDA drug studies. I have been surrounded by and worked with cutting edge technologies, immersed myself in various environments where research has given birth to practical benefits for humanity; and more importantly,  provided standards of safe care for my clients.  

The algorithms which I deployed within a critical care nursing environment are the standards which have been developed because of research.  Everything from modalities... therapies... equipment... down to the type of sponges used within the surgical suite, exist in present form because of solid research. 

Attempts to modify repugnant, anti-Semitic campus culture must be properly addressed.  But to strip research funding and to make it the paddle of punishment against our universities seems lacking in wisdom.  Five years from now most of us will not remember the names of the trouble-makers who were allowed to  squat on, vandalize, and terrorize our major universities with their anti-American hatred.  But five years from now,  your child's life might be saved by that breakthrough drug for leukemia, or that new high resolution dye used in the MRI suite which improves chances for early diagnosis of a critical disease process.  Stalling research for politico-cultural gain does not work for me.  We just might be denying someone a future hope. 

The onus is on the Trump administration to explore additional avenues - not necessarily punitive - to achieve desired goals.  Punishment is always the easy part of any political equation. It is quick, and it can be temporarily effective.  But drawing others into the conversations which must be had, pleading one's case, bringing the other individual alongside in agreement as to the need for change - is the more difficult, labor-intensive, and more slowly unfolding work of good governance.  It is democracy at work.

swoffordwrites@gmail.com

@tammyswofford1

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