Controversy in Research
Research is ubiquitous; it lies deep inside the heart of every issue encountered by society as a whole. It enables the populace to delve into the core of a matter, and discover its inner-workings. However, accompanying this inner discovery is the notion of controversy, which can make or break research. It plays a key role in the funding or lack there of. If a great number of people's views differ from that of the majority, it makes it very difficult to acquire funding to further research and vice versa. In one case, that of the Kennewick man, much controversy looms over the exploration of the bones found on the shores of the Columbia River. Like the situation involving the Kennewick man, Pennsylvania State University is experiencing similar difficulties with it's research of propulsor and turbomachinery design, items involved in war. Both situations involve many ramifications that make it complicated for quality research to be done. Although both have many obstacles to overcome, they persevere, and share the knowledge that they have obtained. In the extreme northwestern United States, in Washington State, a boat race took place. Two fans, William Thomas, and Dave Deacy pulled their own boat ashore and waded in the
ten-foot water. While there, they stumbled across a human skull. Thomas and Deacy took the skull to the county coroner who then passed it on to archaeologist James Chatters. Chatters, and his team of archaeologists, went back down to the river's bank and retrieved a nearly complete human skeleton, with a long, narrow face suggestive of a person of European descent. On October 4, Rep. Doc Hastings of Washington wrote to Lt. Gen. Joe Ballard, commander of the Army Corps of Engineers, expressing alarm that the corps planned to give up the skeleton before it could be studied. (Preston)12 If this was to happen, no one would ever know the true identity of the Kennewick Man. He urged Ballard to "postpone action until the skeleton's origins are determined conclusively or until Congress has the opportunity to review this important issue." In the meantime, he requested that the corps allow scientists access to the bones. A second letter followed a week later, signed by Hastings as well as by Sen. Slade Gorton and Reps. Jack Metcalf and George R. Nethercutt, Jr., all of Washington. (Preston)13 Many scientists offer complaints that allege that the Corps of Engineers determined the remains were culturally affiliated to the five tribes without sufficient evidence. NAGPRA regulations stipulate, The Umatilla have announced their intention to rebury the skeleton as soon as it is repatriated . This causes many problems within the coalition. "Our religious beliefs, culture, and our adopted policies and procedures tell us that this individual must be reburied as soon as possible," wrote Minthorn, the cultural resources deputy director for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. In its notice of intent to repatriate, however, the corps indicated only the skeleton's age and its discovery within the Umatillas' aboriginal territory. "Antiquity says nothing about ancestry," the scientists' lawyers argued. "Forensic anthropology does." (Clark)17 According to NAGPRA, this is insufficient findings, and does not correlate to the outlined specifics needed to determine the mores in which the Kennewick man came. They noted that results of the various studies carried out on the bones raise some doubt as to whether the skeleton is related to modern Indian tribes. NAGPRA defines "Native American" as "of, or relating to, a tribe, people, or culture that is indigenous to the United States." (Clark)18. If the skeleton is not related to any modern indigenous group, the lawyers held, it cannot be Native American within NAGPRA's definition. Furthermore, they contended, "A reliable determination of whether the skeleton is Native American within the meaning of NAGPRA cannot be made without...further study." (Clark)19. Pennsylvania State University is currently involved in the testing of marine propellers and turbomachines in order to have the most efficient, least energy spending type designs for war. In an attempt to develop
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1990
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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