Nik, creationism isn't science. Evolution vs. Creationism is only a manufactured concept because some people can't understand that their holy book isn't a science manual.
That said, I was pleased that most of the contestants said evolution should be taught, even if they clearly had no idea just how baseless creationism is.
Yeah, I too was fairly impressed with the contestants answers even though they did not seem to understand that creationism is not in the same category as evolution. That and (this just drives me WILD!) the 'evolution is a theory' insanity! Pleasepleaseplease teachers, teach the difference between colloquial use of 'theory' and scientific use. Please?
Why(?!) Why oh why oh why is there even a debate about this? Most other places in the world - this question is akin to "Should math be taught in schools?" The answer is not even debatable - until you remove either logic, or a desire that schools educate children to best be prepared for the world.
I fear for the future as well. Gravity is a theory. Should we discuss whether or not we "believe" in it? Science is by definition not something for belief. How the theocrats ever got as far as they have with teaching Creationism as more "believable" than evolution is something I will never understand. Is it because most people are too polite to call someone on their religious faith? I kind of doubt that, because I don't think people are that polite. If anyone can explain this, I would love to hear it.
Barbwire- In a nutshell, this is the inevitable end result of empowering a bunch of Born Again religious whackos after they helped vote in G.H.W. Bush as 41st. president. They were recruited by none other than recently Born Again and converted alcoholic G.W. Bush. By the holy power of the pulpit (and massive GOP campaign financing) they helped turn the election tide- end result, people who were previously sequestered to the outer reaches of society because of their off the wall religious beliefs were now in position to influence (and even set) national policy, as well as the national mindset.
Combine that with the Republicans' renewed zeal to weaken and defund public schools, in order to break one of the largest remaining (and largely Democratic) unions in this country, and that pretty much gets us to the point where we have citizenry so indoctrinated by religious mythology, so lacking in basic science fact and theory, that they honestly can't separate fact from fantasy- their ability to reason, their power to think logically and rationally, forever impaired. Those are the people who officially led this country for eight long years, still influence our policy and are regrouping big time as we speak. BTW, their pseudo Christian science is rivaled only by their revisionist American history...
It could be that a large percentage of homo sapiens, maybe even 60%, simply don't have enough intelligence to comprehend scientific method, no matter how much you try to show them the wonder and marvel of it. They are left vulnerable to manipulation and control by those who master the tools of brainwashing with superstition and religion. Watch the republican candidates try their luck at pulling the puppet strings - what a show.
Those of us who understand and love science are rewarded with a lifetime of marvel watching its continual unfolding. What an unfolding! We are right now in the steepest part of the parabolic explosion of the evolution of technology and science, paralleling an exponential explosion in human population with all its side effects. We are in time of cataclysmic dangers and wonders, and we can be witnesses to all of it! What more could one ask for? Well, I'll tell you what. A Bugatti Veyron L'or blanc. Every contestant who demonstrates a working understanding of evolution, and can recite all eons, epocs and periods since the cambrian period, and has white enough teeth and erupts with volcanic enthusiasm will receive one, along with a certified hedge-fund husband.
I waded thru the whole display of abject stupidity in the forlorn hope that at least one contestant would react the way the Vermont women did in the parody.
Oh the humanity. I'm sure I lost several precious IQ points just watching that.
I watched the whole epic, weird second video, and it seems to me the contestants' answers all have some striking commonalities. I get the sense that they all got the same piece of advice before Q & A, something like, "No matter what the question is, make sure you embrace diversity in your answer. Do not stop talking until you've given something to everyone." I think only Miss Indiana and Miss Kentucky failed to say that evolution should be, at least, an option, and Miss Kentucky tried to base her rejection on diversity.
In a related story, Miss Indiana's and Miss Kentucky's answers were also the funniest.
Lots of ignorance here with the smug evolution crowd. The concept that those who question evolution are equated with Dark Ages and Superstition is baseless. The reason there is debate, and the need for many science organizations to gather signficant govt. funding, and private funding to counter creationism, is that there is a large creation movement (lots of scientists in that group) in the US, and not just because of faith-based thinking. (If it is such a laughable position, why is there such a large effort to counter it?) Dr. Ben Carson (look him up) is a creationist. How would all of you classify Dr. Carson in terms of scientific knowledge? Look at the number of great scientists who had no evolutionary foundation - newton, faraday, mendel, the list is long. It's actually pretty laughable that many cannot distinguish between hard, observable, laws of science (ie math, physics,chemistry, etc.) and the philosophical, assumption-based, evolutionary theory. (Creationists dont claim that mainstream scientists don't know their science, the claim is the starting point, the assumption first - then fit the data - READ - it happened in the past, not observed, but deduced) Evolutionary fields claims to follow the scientific method, but many see the holes in that claim. Most who watch the math parody probably see no problem with the analogy of mathematical laws and belief in evolution - which is so fundamentally flawed most 5th graders could see the difference.
Between hereditary trait variance and random mutation in a group leading to distinct communal traits in a family group that benefit survival kind of in my mind indicate a process of natural selection as survival of the fittest leading to some very specific body/behavior types. If you want proof just research the silver fox breeding experiment in Siberia.
I literally face-palmed in response to the second video within the first 30 seconds.
ReplyDeleteapples and oranges, the parody is dumb and these 2 have no relativity whatsoever
ReplyDeleteand most of the contestants actually get it right
evolution Vs. Creation is a manufactured conflict, they both exist and can correlate
parents and teachers should decide which, or both, or maybe neither, are discussed in schools
Nik, creationism isn't science. Evolution vs. Creationism is only a manufactured concept because some people can't understand that their holy book isn't a science manual.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I was pleased that most of the contestants said evolution should be taught, even if they clearly had no idea just how baseless creationism is.
The parody was hilarious!
ReplyDeleteBut I couldn't watch more than a minute of the real video (maybe the answers get more intelligent from there)
Should Miss USA contestants be asked for opinions?
(No, no they should not)
Yeah, I too was fairly impressed with the contestants answers even though they did not seem to understand that creationism is not in the same category as evolution. That and (this just drives me WILD!) the 'evolution is a theory' insanity! Pleasepleaseplease teachers, teach the difference between colloquial use of 'theory' and scientific use. Please?
ReplyDeleteWhy(?!) Why oh why oh why is there even a debate about this? Most other places in the world - this question is akin to "Should math be taught in schools?" The answer is not even debatable - until you remove either logic, or a desire that schools educate children to best be prepared for the world.
ReplyDeleteI weep for the future. I, too, couldn't bear to sit for long through the second video.
ReplyDeleteWhy is this even a debate for topic in the modern age? We moved out of the Dark Ages of superstition (supposedly) hundreds of years ago.
Evolution isn't something you have to "believe in" - that's like saying you "believe in rain".
I uhhh... really think both videos should be seen, and taught- and let the people decide which is funnier.
ReplyDeleteBoth ARE seriously funny- although the second is also seriously sad.
Favorites from the latter:
"I think everyone should have their opinions taught," which just beat out, "I think little bits and pieces should be taught."
At a certain point, one becomes mournful rather than horrified. I think I reached that point about a decade ago.
ReplyDeleteI fear for the future - I really do.
I fear for the future as well. Gravity is a theory. Should we discuss whether or not we "believe" in it? Science is by definition not something for belief. How the theocrats ever got as far as they have with teaching Creationism as more "believable" than evolution is something I will never understand. Is it because most people are too polite to call someone on their religious faith? I kind of doubt that, because I don't think people are that polite. If anyone can explain this, I would love to hear it.
ReplyDeleteBarbwire- In a nutshell, this is the inevitable end result of empowering a bunch of Born Again religious whackos after they helped vote in G.H.W. Bush as 41st. president. They were recruited by none other than recently Born Again and converted alcoholic G.W. Bush. By the holy power of the pulpit (and massive GOP campaign financing) they helped turn the election tide- end result, people who were previously sequestered to the outer reaches of society because of their off the wall religious beliefs were now in position to influence (and even set) national policy, as well as the national mindset.
ReplyDeleteCombine that with the Republicans' renewed zeal to weaken and defund public schools, in order to break one of the largest remaining (and largely Democratic) unions in this country, and that pretty much gets us to the point where we have citizenry so indoctrinated by religious mythology, so lacking in basic science fact and theory, that they honestly can't separate fact from fantasy- their ability to reason, their power to think logically and rationally, forever impaired. Those are the people who officially led this country for eight long years, still influence our policy and are regrouping big time as we speak. BTW, their pseudo Christian science is rivaled only by their revisionist American history...
Happy Fourth of July!
It could be that a large percentage of homo sapiens, maybe even 60%, simply don't have enough intelligence to comprehend scientific method, no matter how much you try to show them the wonder and marvel of it. They are left vulnerable to manipulation and control by those who master the tools of brainwashing with superstition and religion. Watch the republican candidates try their luck at pulling the puppet strings - what a show.
ReplyDeleteThose of us who understand and love science are rewarded with a lifetime of marvel watching its continual unfolding. What an unfolding! We are right now in the steepest part of the parabolic explosion of the evolution of technology and science, paralleling an exponential explosion in human population with all its side effects. We are in time of cataclysmic dangers and wonders, and we can be witnesses to all of it! What more could one ask for? Well, I'll tell you what. A Bugatti Veyron L'or blanc. Every contestant who demonstrates a working understanding of evolution, and can recite all eons, epocs and periods since the cambrian period, and has white enough teeth and erupts with volcanic enthusiasm will receive one, along with a certified hedge-fund husband.
USA! USA! - We're number... uh, what comes after 47?
ReplyDeleteabject idiocy, en masse. Depressing.
ReplyDeleteI waded thru the whole display of abject stupidity in the forlorn hope that at least one contestant would react the way the Vermont women did in the parody.
ReplyDeleteOh the humanity. I'm sure I lost several precious IQ points just watching that.
I watched the whole epic, weird second video, and it seems to me the contestants' answers all have some striking commonalities. I get the sense that they all got the same piece of advice before Q & A, something like, "No matter what the question is, make sure you embrace diversity in your answer. Do not stop talking until you've given something to everyone." I think only Miss Indiana and Miss Kentucky failed to say that evolution should be, at least, an option, and Miss Kentucky tried to base her rejection on diversity.
ReplyDeleteIn a related story, Miss Indiana's and Miss Kentucky's answers were also the funniest.
Lots of ignorance here with the smug evolution crowd. The concept that those who question evolution are equated with Dark Ages and Superstition is baseless. The reason there is debate, and the need for many science organizations to gather signficant govt. funding, and private funding to counter creationism, is that there is a large creation movement (lots of scientists in that group) in the US, and not just because of faith-based thinking. (If it is such a laughable position, why is there such a large effort to counter it?) Dr. Ben Carson (look him up) is a creationist. How would all of you classify Dr. Carson in terms of scientific knowledge? Look at the number of great scientists who had no evolutionary foundation - newton, faraday, mendel, the list is long. It's actually pretty laughable that many cannot distinguish between hard, observable, laws of science (ie math, physics,chemistry, etc.) and the philosophical, assumption-based, evolutionary theory. (Creationists dont claim that mainstream scientists don't know their science, the claim is the starting point, the assumption first - then fit the data - READ - it happened in the past, not observed, but deduced) Evolutionary fields claims to follow the scientific method, but many see the holes in that claim. Most who watch the math parody probably see no problem with the analogy of mathematical laws and belief in evolution - which is so fundamentally flawed most 5th graders could see the difference.
ReplyDeleteSigh...
ReplyDeleteI'm not even going to bother replying.
Between hereditary trait variance and random mutation in a group leading to distinct communal traits in a family group that benefit survival kind of in my mind indicate a process of natural selection as survival of the fittest leading to some very specific body/behavior types. If you want proof just research the silver fox breeding experiment in Siberia.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbcwDXhugjw