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Readin', Writin', 'Rithmetic, and Runnin'

There are things we learn in school:  how to count, and read, and write.   Sometimes we learn how to sing, and to read music, and how to tie our shoes.  We learn the earth is a sphere with lots of water, and that the sun is almost a hundred million miles away, which is a larger number than we can think, except abstractly.

But how in God's name is it possible to go to school and not learn that the earth is billions of years old, and that it has evolved; that everything has evolved?  As my Mom used to ask:  were you standing behind the door when the brains were passed out?

Apparently, you cannot be a Republican candidate for public office if you actually believe what they taught all of us in school!  "No, well," you have to say, "evolution is just a theory that is out there, but you know, no theory has answers for everything, and who do you think created scientists and theories in the first place, anyway?  Tha's right!  God!  About 6,000 years ago, at the beginning!"

One might think it would be embarrassing to deny evolution, as it is embarrassing not to be able to read or write, or to think that the earth is flat, but apparently, it is a required condition if you want to run for the Presidency.  Jon Huntsman says he believes in evolution, and most of what scientists tell us is true, but that only proves that he is not a serious candidate for office!  I mean, really, we should have known!  Does he call us "folks"?  Does he drop his "g"s when he is talkin' to folks?

Evolution isn't a goofy, cockeyed proposition suggested by a mad hatter, somewhere.  It is simply what we know to be true:  life evolves!  We are not what we used to be!  Life continues to evolve.  The universe is huge, and very old.  It almost certainly began with a monstrous explosion, and we do not know what came before that.  We don't say it is a fact, yet, but it will be no surprise if we discover that life may have evolved in lots of places in the universe.  It is quite likely.

It ought to be no comfort to take refuge in a religion in order to deny evolution:  that would be a deliberate affirmation of ignorance.  "I do not believe in gravity, either.  My religion denies it!  Did you ever see gravity?"

No, and I never saw the Big Bang, either, nor an electrical field, nor a pound of anti-matter.

I have, though, seen politicians deny that they have an education.


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