OPINION:
If Stephen Hawking, as a scientist, wants to be logical in his boycott of anything associated with Israeli technology, including conferences that are being held in Israel, then he should extend his efforts to banning the use of Israeli developments and products (“Why Stephen Hawking’s Israel boycott matters,” Web, May 11). Unfortunately, such an action would render his ability to communicate almost nil.
Mr. Hawking relies heavily on computer chips pioneered by Intel Corp. and originating in Israel. In addition, the work on Lou Gehrig’s disease, which has afflicted him for years, would no longer be available to help him.
While Mr. Hawking in his youth made outstanding contributions to the field of physics, his recent efforts — including the statement that the Higgs boson would never be found and questioning its very existence — have been proven wrong. Influenced by Noam Chomsky, the well-known anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian linguistics specialist, Mr. Hawking has entered the field of political controversy, an arena where his statements should have little impact based on his background.
NELSON MARANS
Silver Spring
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