Word: sftp
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...recent letter (November 19 and public presentation by Science for the People (SFTP) is the latest manifestation of their continuing campaign to illegitimize sociobiology by portraying it as a transparent attempt to justify social inequality and genocidal social practices as the inevitable consequence of genetic differences among groups. Characterizing sociobiology as revenant "Nazi Social Biology" represents a new level of invective in their polemics, and while the hyperbolic nature of their claims interferes with their widespread acceptance, nevertheless damage has been done in the creation of a lingering impression that there is a modest measure of truth to their accusation...
While it doesn't prove that a genuine mass movement has begun, a story Teel tells about his participation in the recent Boston meeting does seem to support the idea that scientists and others are beginning to take the analyses of SftP and similar groups more seriously...
...Longtime SftP member Michael Teel, formerly an instructor in a course called "Science and Society" at U-Mass at Amherst and presently a labor organizer there, also insists that it is the AAAS that has changed. There is a new consciousness beginning to take root, he says, the result of Vietnam, Watergate, and the persistent efforts of groups like the SftP...
This year the AAAS returned to Boston for its annual meeting, and there seemed to be a change in its relationship to SftP. There were no disruptions. SftP was allowed to arrange and participate in sessions on the regular program, and members had their own meeting room and literature table...
...SftP members are sensitive about interpretations that the calmer relationship with AAAS indicates a new moderation in SftP's view of the American scientific establishment. Beckwith says that it is really the AAAS that has changed. Many social issues that could not be discussed in previous years were even raised by the AAAS this time, he says...