Thank God for Dover Voters

[LeiYunFat]

Also, I subscribe to the aquatic ape theory, that homo sapiens evolved from a partially amphibious hominid ape, thus explaining the lack of body hair, increased body fat, and partial digital webbing homo sapiens exhibit in comparison the great apes. But that theory was shunned out of the anthropological community, because A: it was proposed by a women, and B: the old anthropologists who really like the savannah theory are still alive. Just my two cents.

That sounds interesting. I've only heard of the name before, not really anything about it. Probably because those crinkly old athropologists are trying to keep me away from it. But the theory was made up by a woman, so it's probably wrong. I mean, look at how they drive. Come on.

[DeltronZer0]

I saw a show on tv the other day and it was explaining how the 'Intelligent design' theory was becoming increasing popular in the US bible belt. Largely due to the fact that the 'creationalist' theory has been shunned out of most school science curricumlums. I hardly see much of a difference between the two theories, either way they want to blame god for our existence. I also heard that they are planning to spread the ID theory worldwide, with educational dvds being sent to other countries to encourage its teaching.

On a different note, alot of the other species of hominid that did walk the earth with our ancient ancestors lacked the cunning to compete with homosapiens. Take the neanderthals for instance, they were huge brutish hominids capable of tearing 10 homosapiens a new one, if they could catch them that is. The problem with the neanderthals was they were kind of slow, and fairly simple minded. They did use simple tools & weapons, but unlike the homosapiens, they couldnt think outside the box. Our increased intelligence helped with planning attacks on other tribes, hunting for food and other resources aswell as evolving communication through body and vocal language. These are all the assets that we needed to become the dominant hominid species of the era.

[doc]

I don't think old Patty boy is insane. I think he just suffers from the delusions that he has suffered from his entire life. Just that now, with his advanced age, he can't control what comes out of his mouth; either he's senile, or, he just doesn't care anymore.

I would suggest that nothing has changed with the guy. Which, if you think about it, is a scary thought. Then again, I always wonder about these "deeply religious" individuals anyway.

[zachsan]

...either way they want to blame god for our existence...

That's one way to put it.

[zachsan]

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/08/mccains-vp-want.html

McCain's VP Wants Creationism Taught in School

Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin wants creationism taught in science classes.

In a 2006 gubernatorial debate, the soon-to-be governor of Alaska said of evolution and creation education, "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of education. Healthy debate is so important, and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both."

(Read about Palin's views on ANWAR and polar bears on our sister blog, Threat Level.)

Asked by the Anchorage Daily News whether she believed in evolution, Palin declined to answer, but said that "I don't think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class."

"I'm not going to pretend I know how all this came to be," she said.

The battle between evolution and creationism -- specifically, Christian creationism -- in U.S. classrooms dates back to the 1925 Scopes trial, when a Tennessee court banned the teaching of evolution. Since then, state and federal courts have repeatedly rejected so-called creation science in public schools, calling it religion rather than science.

The latest courtroom defeat came in the 2005 Kitzmiller v. Dover case, when the superficially religion-neutral theory of intelligent design was classified as religious creationism. The Supreme Court ruled in 1987 that teaching creationism violated the separation of church and state.

Nevertheless, pro-creationism education initiatives driven by Christian conservatives have flourished, and defenders of evolution -- and, more broadly, scientific integrity -- worry that Palin's pick will give momentum to this church-over-state push.

"It's unfortunate McCain would pick someone who shares those particular anti-science views, but it's not a surprise," said Barbara Forrest, a Southeastern Lousiana University philosophy professor and prominent critic of creationist science. "She's a choice that pleases the religious right. And the religious right has been the chief force against teaching evolution."

In February, Florida's Board of Education narrowly defeated a bill calling for evolution to be balanced by "alternatives." The language is widely regarded as a euphemism for creationism engineered by the pro-intelligent design Discovery Institute, whose "wedge strategy" calls for the gradual dilution of classroom evolution and its eventual replacement by "a science consonant with Christian and theistic convictions."

Armed with courtroom-friendly language, Texas is currently considering creationism-friendly revisions to its own curriculum. In June, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal passed the Louisiana Science Education Act, encouraging schools to provide alternative critiques of global warming, human cloning and evolution. Similar initiatives were defeated in South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Missouri and Michigan.

Palin's statements track with the official Alaska Republican Party platform, which support creation science and intelligent design by name, and says that "evidence disputing the theory should also be presented."

According to Fordham Institute science education expert Lawrence Lerner, Palin's nomination is less worrisome in terms of education than the broad relationship of science and government.

"In the direct sense, vice presidents don't have much to do with what goes on in classrooms. But a person who's a creationist doesn't understand science and technology at all," said Lerner. "It doesn't bode well for science, and doesn't bode well for interaction between science and government."

President Bush has been publicly skeptical of evolution, while Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama has professed support. "I think it's a mistake to try to cloud the teachings of science with theories that frankly don't hold up to scientific inquiry," he said in April.

John McCain's campaign did not respond in time for publication.

When asked about Palin potentially being a step removed from the White House, Forrest responded, "We'd have a creationist as President. But that's not new -- we've already got one."

To be fair "advocate of teaching creationism in schools" does not equal "creationist". But it's not good news.

[zachsan]

Apparently I'm on an ancient-thread-reviving kick. It's funny to see some of these names... Plumflower, DeltronZero, LYF... mortal... and by the way Maestro could totally kick his ass.

[doc]

You know, they'll get emails about these responses.

Would be nice to know how these people are doing.

And this political system this election, well, it's just comical.

[Fa Hui]

LOL, that's understatement Doc!

[zachsan]

And this political system this election, well, it's just comical.

Just this election?

[doc]

Especially this election. Just mind boggling. It's embarrassing to be an American these days.

[Fa Hui]

Where's the reset button when you need one, eh?

[zachsan]

It's embarrassing to be an American these days.

Where's the reset button when you need one, eh?

I never would have guessed Doc is an Obama supporter and Fa Hui is a violent revolutionary.

[Fa Hui]

I never would have guessed Doc is an Obama supporter and Fa Hui is a violent revolutionary.

They had it coming to them....

[zachsan]

They had it coming to them....

Violent reactionary then?

I think I'm splitting hairs... the point is Fa Hui is dangerous. Got that FBI? Of course you do.