I think our country needs a better education system.
From the latest Gallup Poll: "The majority of Republicans in the United States do not believe the theory of evolution is true and do not believe that humans evolved over millions of years from less advanced forms of life. This suggests that when three Republican presidential candidates at a May debate stated they did not believe in evolution, they were generally in sync with the bulk of the rank-and-file Republicans whose nomination they are seeking to obtain."
Isn't that a little like saying you don't believe in gravity or outer space?
Via Pam's House Blend.
Somewhat relatedly, I went home for lunch today and caught a couple minutes of Family Feud, a guilty pleasure. One of the questions was "Name people who have made the world a better place with their ideas" or somesuch. I'm yelling at the TV "Edison! Marie Curie! The guy who cured polio!" Nope, the answers were MLK, Oprah, Bill Clinton, Ben Franklin, and Jesus (in that order), and the incorrect guesses included Mother Theresa and George Washington.
Okay, the people on that list are indeed great people. But most left the world a better place because of their IDEALS, or morals or goals or actions or strength of character, not their ideas. I suppose you could say Oprah's idea of a daytime talk show improved the world, and, sure, Bill Clinton's idea of a collective of big-brains working to end world famine is a great idea. But I doubt this is what the responders were thinking about.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
What is wrong with this country
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6 comments:
This post stimulated a rapidly accelerating thought process that quickly derailed in a combined spate of head banging and primal screaming. Tomorrow I will calm myself with therapeutic episodes of Montiel Williams and As the World Turns.
The world is full of ignorance, and America leads the way as usual.
I'm hoping they didn't include anyone from the Fox Network on their list ... ???
I wouldn't say America leads the way, but here's an interesting anecdote: When I worked at a big science organization, there was a project that intended to focus on issues important to the science community internationally. Someone brought up intelligent design, which is something of a hot-button issue here. But the only places it's actually an issue are here and Saudi Arabia.
I always thought that was rather interesting.
PunditMom: I know, it was at least gratifying that Clinton was on the list, as opposed to, say, Bill O'Reilly.
you know, i've been sputtering about the intelligence level ever since i did survey research in grad school. your post brought back a memory when the word "albondigas" made me nuts:
but you know me. i'm a total snob. i still chuckle about the time a football player asked me if i wanted to go out for some "breakfastses" at about 3 a.m. i was inebriated, and i still knew proper grammar.
yep. inherent snob.
;-)
C'mon, evolution isn't a fact, it's a theory. More plausible than the Flying Spaghetti Monster, but a theory nonetheless. Archeologists may one day dig up evidence that proves homo sapiens evolved from the decendants of Xenu who migrated from another galaxy to destroy his enemies in Earth's volcanos using H-bombs. Besides, SOMEONE had to put those fossils there underground.
And it's not "gravity" it's "intelligent falling." Duh.
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