Bush Remarks Roil Debate on Teaching of Evolution
Pres Bush is his usual vague way has apparently endorsed intelligent design; but not really, according to his advisors what he said was just common sense. I generally don't pay attention to what politicians say because they're usually saying it to make some supporter group happy. The only reason I'm paying attention to these statements is that the supporter groups that he is making happy can actually use his statements to affect change on the local level. His latest quote that is being championed by intelligent design supporters is " 'I felt like both sides ought to be properly taught.' Asked again by a reporter whether he believed that both sides in the debate between evolution and intelligent design should be taught in the schools, Mr. Bush replied that he did, 'so people can understand what the debate is about.' " Also, other articles about this statement reference a comment from him in Science magazine: "Bush said the federal government should not tell states or school boards what to teach but that 'scientific critiques of any theory should be a normal part of the science curriculum.' " They're all such little soundbites. He's so reckless with his positions to not fully explain them. Besides that, if local schools are receiving federal funds, then the big basics of education should be set at a federal level. What if some local school decided to teach that the South was right and it's terrible that they lost the war and Lincoln was a terrible president (actually they probably do in Alabama)? That would be an alternative historical perspective.
I don't agree with the theory of intelligent design being a theory, especially after checking out a couple of websites about it. It is a perspective. The "evidence" they claim to have is that there is no clear explanation of how certain microorganism came into being. So that's it. If I can't find a good explanation then it must be intelligent design. Whatever!
I have two big problems with saying that both sides of the debate should be taught. First of all, yes it's a debate... since when do schools teach about current political debate as scientific theory? This is a political and social debate; when you look at the scientific evidence for intelligent design you'll find none. Second problem is the question of who is the designer. Aliens? God? Mother Earth? Many gods/goddesses? Hell, let's bring back Zeus, he was cool.
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15 comments:
Ok, Ok, literal interpretaton of the Bible. And these people run the country? I'm moving to Italy.
Kristos
Alrighty now! I found the new button!
Kristos
I like this new button, so much more than the old button. The same but very much different.
Sometimes...when no one is around...I use this button.
I was just reading over at Pesky about this. Go take a look good stuff.
Well, I never said I was original...
Nah, this is a big issue that is being talked about by a lot of people. Mac over at PeskyApostrophe just has another view on it. Here's the link to her article.
http://www.peskyapostrophe.com/index.php/weblog/id_this/
Ah, yes, I had read it, hence, my earlier comment.
Who are you people? How dare you touch my button! It is MY button! MY BUTTON!
The real problem is that it is not a debate. Just ask any scientist.
And I don't mean that in the funny way it sounds. Biologists don't even bother discussing alternate "theories" any more than you or I will debate whether or not H2O is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
Which is precisely why educated people in charge of setting curriculum in institutions of education -- outside of the backwoods hillbilly wasteland -- don't ponder whether or not to teach both sides. The "debate" is never had.
You'd be surprised how many educated people (not necessarily scientists, but college professors) believe in ID.
Other problem is the "backwoods hillbilly wasteland" holds a bunch of voting power and seems to keep backwoods hillbilly type presidents in power thereby keeping backwoods hillbilly administrations pushing through bad legislation that may stay with us for who knows how long.
The third PROBLEM is people using my button!
You'd be surprised how many educated people (not necessarily scientists, but college professors) believe in ID.
Announcing a grave need for requiring more science courses before an individual can call his- or herself "educated."
... the "backwoods hillbilly wasteland" holds ... voting power ... keep backwoods ... presidents in power ... keeping ... administrations pushing ... bad legislation ... may stay ... for ... long.
Indeed. Begging the question: why hath not California broken off and formed its own country yet?
BTW elipses are rad.
California needs to steal water from Colorodo. This is why yous guys have not succeeded.
And yes, I am a real scientist (I was) and I do have a button problem.
As for Intellegent Design. It is a philosophy and has no place in a biology cirruculum. Biology is about two things: Mechanisms and Structure. If you'all want to discuss religion, that is another thing. There is a time and place for relgion and philosophy and it is not your 10AM biology class. The teacher is ill-equiped to dicuss it.
To Mr Bush: Evolution has been accepted as a fact in science for the last 100 years. We now dicuss the different kinds of evolution, puntucated, equilibrium, molecular, etc.
Onto religion, what ever you beliefs are that is fine. If your God is so puny and powerless that he could not have created Evolution, that is sad. Darwin himself spoke of the "unseen watchmaker" who created a fantasic and timeless system to which we are part.
Onto scientists, I have worked with Hindu, Christian, Jews, Muslims, Jans, Catholics, and the whole lot as a scientist. The answer? No one cares. We don't discuss it because it is not a scientific question-- it is a philosophical one (best left for the pub not the lab). We all just studied the wonders of nature regardless of how they came about or who created them.
Onto the current "debate". It is all about politicians getting re-elected by playing on the fears of ignorant people. Do not believe for a minute that they really care about your reglious beliefs. They are all about getting into office (see "Terry Schivo" for more information).
As for the backwater hicks? It is called America.
While I have nothing to add I'd just like to say what great read this was. At least once a certain scientist got past his button fixation.
Alrighty then, carry on.
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