In reference to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0PAJNntoRgA
Way to go Rick Perry!
Gotta Love Jon Stewart
Evolution… Miss USA Edition
Have you seen this? It’s long (like 15 minutes long). Go ahead though, indulge yourself in the role models for women in this country. Guess what gets you places girls? Cute smiles, pounds of makeup, bleached teeth, exposed yet teasing busts, and horrendously bad facts about science.
Granted, there were a few answers in there that were ok, but the overwhelming majority was just awful.
Some of my favorites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkBmhM0R2A0&feature=player_detailpage#t=39s
REALLY??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkBmhM0R2A0&feature=player_detailpage#t=307s
Is this even comprehensible?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkBmhM0R2A0&feature=player_detailpage#t=265s
:: blink::
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkBmhM0R2A0&feature=player_detailpage#t=110s
Close!!
Lot’s of answers took the easy route, let’s just teach both! More importantly, they were giving answers about “letting the child decide”… I have a few issues about this, but what really bothered me is that they all wanted the schools to place evolution and creationism on the same level or platform, in a public school, and to let the children decide.
Yes, evolution is a theory, in the sense that it is a model in how organisms have lived and survived through history, going forward. But there is also empirical evidence that supports evolution. Just like gravity, in which we have a theory that “gravity” keeps us on Earth and we have empirical evidence (aka our feet are planted) to suggest that gravity is a fact.
Like, you know… let’s just let the kids decide about another theory, like math.
I’m not convinced that creationism should be taught in public schools. There are plenty of appropriate places to teach your child or have your child hear about creationism. There’s church, Sunday school, camps, their own independent reading, and you can even talk to your child about your beliefs. But please, leave it out of public school.
Texans: Dinosaurs, Humans Walked the Earth at Same Time
One of my favorite topics of discussion when talking to people about creationism. Order.
The first question that most people dance around is the length of the “7 days”, but those who have put some thought into it, won’t go there because it’s a debate about interpretation.
But I do always have chats about the order in which things happened. Genesis is all over the place when it comes to ordering. So it’s no shock that many people could think that dinosaurs (commonly referenced) and humans logically existed at the same time.
It’s funny to think about a homosapien running from a T-Rex. Very… Jurassic Park…
Along the same lines, I also get into debates about C-14 dating and the ever classic, that god put dinosaur fossils in the Earth and that they never existed.
Our brains are amazing. We’re self-aware and are in a constant search for how we got here and why we’re here. It’s no surprise that it becomes a topic of debate.
Dallas Fort Worth Coalition of Reason
Hysteria in Fort Worth!! The Fort Worth T is running an ad campaign on the side of buses in Fort Worth from the DFW Coalition of Reason, speaking out to the Atheists in Fort Worth, saying “You’re not alone”.
The ad states: “Millions of Americans are GOOD WITHOUT GOD”
Lots of uproar about it being “mean” and “wrong”… I don’t get it why it’s mean or wrong.
I won’t get into the public discourse around the topic as it’s an epic battle that’s been ongoing for centuries. But I will engage in informed, respectful conversation with a promise for respect in return.
Source: dfwcor.org
Daily Chart: American opinion on gay marriage For the first time since the Pew Research Centre began conducting polls on the subject in 1995, fewer than half of Americans (48%) are opposed to gay marriage, while 42% are in favour.
Source: theeconomist
50 Free Thought Billboards in Atlanta
It’s an interesting movement that’s unfolding. Atheists, like myself, are starting to be more open about their thoughts.
Towards this specific campaign, there have been other stories exactly like it all over the world, bringing up all kinds of interesting results. Interestingly enough, some reactions cry “oppression” and others ironically “keep it to yourselves.”
It’s about exposure, asking people to think, and letting others know that they’re not alone.
Origin of Stupidity (via ZOMGitsCriss)
This video comes after Kirk Cameron and the infamous Banana Guy Ray Comfort announced that they were going to distribute the “Origin of Species” with a special 50 page “introduction” that put in misleading “facts” about how Hitler is somehow involved, that the universe couldn’t have come from nothing, and some other snake oil tactics… (video here). They have since promised to remove that section and make it less Atheist bashing…
Ohh… and if you want to see the Banana Guy video, check it.
Source: youtube.com
I'm a Ruby developer that loves to play with science, math, and gadgets. Previously, I was part of a startup called drop.io, acquired by Facebook. I live in Fort Worth, TX with my wife, 2 dogs, and baby boy. I'm a foodie, a gamer, and a self proclaimed scientist.
