The Tom Lehrer Wisdom Channel
2 HN recommenders · recommended in 4 months, 2016–2020
2:23 · 363K views · Dec 1, 2008
Tom Lehrer performs his satirical song about rocket scientist Wernher von Braun, with an introduction. It is a two-minute musical clip.
HN quotes it in discussions of engineers' moral responsibility and recommends it as a favorite of Lehrer's witty songs.
4 comments from Hacker News
It's been a consistent of my life, every good friend I've had already knows all the words to all the Tom Lehrer songs. And enjoys singing them while drunk. My parents... who are only slightly younger than Tom Lehrer... think he speaks too fast, think he's too disrespectful, or just don't get the humor. I get that he was successful -- but I think classic example of someone born a little too soon. Anyway, if someone could put Tom Lehrer and Stephen Colbert together for an interview I'd be pretty happy. === Good atricle from 2000. * 'When Kissinger won the Nobel peace prize, satire died' | Global | The Guardian || [LINK] === Some of my favorite songs... but you can't go wrong, and they're all on YouTube. * Tom Lehrer: Smut (concert live) (1965) - YouTube || [LINK] * Tom Lehrer: Alma (concert live) (1965) - YouTube || [LINK] * Tom Lehrer - Wernher von Braun - with intro - widescreen - YouTube || this video
For those who haven't watched any of his material, please click here to see the above performed: this video He is amazingly talented across many different axes.
'Once the rockets go up, who cares where they come down? That's not my department! says Wernher Von Braun.' this video I really really really strongly disagree with this. As the ones who are most knowledgable about the systems they're building, I definitely think engineers have a moral responsibility to make sure they're at the very least following applicable laws and regulations - I would argue that we have a moral responsibility to act ethically even in cases where it's not covered by laws or regulations, but I'll admit that's a bit more controversial.
The parallels and precedents from other (mostly) European powers is also telling. England (Ireland, Boer Wars, China, India, Indians, Carribean), Belgium (Congo), United States (look up the history of the American Legion, or of the Los Angeles Times , just to mention two), make the history of Italian and German fascism all the more chilling. That wasn't a fluke. As for Werner von Braun: this video