Screaming Penguin - Source Does Matter

This months Scientific American has a great commentary by the editor in chief, John Rennie. The commentary, Total Eclipse of Reason is a response to the recent move by the Kansas state school board to ban the teaching of evolution. Yes, if you have not heard as of yet, the brilliant folks in that fine state have made this illustrious decision.Rennie is right on in his stating that the "reasoning-I gag at calling it that" behind the decision is downright stupid. The thinking is that evolution and the big bang are theories and not fact, and we should only teach fact. First of all I disagree with that. Evolution is a fact. There is substantial evidence from the fossil record that supports eveolution, and eveolution is happening all around us today (even to us in fact.) There is almost no better supported fact, if you are reading this you are evidence of evolution.Also by this logic the "theories" of Einstein, Copernicus and many more scientists would not be taught. Rennie elaborates on this as well. People that cannot comprehend evolution are arrogant, self centered and shallow. That may sound mean and make some folks angry, but a fact is a fact, the year is 1999, deal with it already. If you are naive and arrogant enough to think "I didnt come from no ape" then you are hopelessly lost, lets move on.The bottom line is that "natural selection", sadly, will take place in this very case. If students from one state are not taught valid scientific principles, regardless of religious beliefs (lets not delve into that here, whatever your book, Anarchists, Bible, Koran or anything in Sanskrit if you interpret it literally you will be in trouble, and its a whole different debate) those students will be at a disadvantage against students who are taught valid science. This means not only in getting into colleges (as Rennie suggests) but in life. Being ignorant (or worse, stupid) does not help anything and its ramifications go far beyond educational enrollment. Kansas and other non-eveolutionists everywhere need to pick another bone (pun intended) and get a clue.DISCLAIMERIf you disagree, feel free to respond to my email address above, these views most certainly DO reflect those of ToTSP even though they are my personal interjections. Once you respond I will promptly delete your note and move on, you are not worth arguing with, the get a clue line is for you, so get one and dont bother.