Tennessee legislature votes to allow teachers to introduce
evidence contrary to the collected opinions currently considered correct by
scientists. Specifically mentioned are evolution and climate change (global
warming). Not the second law of thermodynamics. Not the shape of the earth or
the position of Earth in the universe. Just those two. You wonder what is wrong
with presenting dissenting evidence. Nothing at all if, and this a great big
if, the science is not settled.
Science only works when hypotheses are tested and counter
tested until everyone, or nearly everyone, agrees with the assertion under
review. Nobody ever said that everybody with a brain and mouth could validly
challenge any scientific idea. Challenges must come from a source that knows
the details of the assertion from many aspects and sees a flaw. Bubba in west Tennessee
has no credibility when he says “Personally, I don’t think the earth revolves.
I can’t feel it or see it. That’s just bulls**t.” But, when Bubba says “Those tracks aren’t
deer, they are hogs”, he may just be right. See? Nothing wrong with challenging
a proposition. Just be sure the challenge comes from a source that should be
credible in the area of the proposition.
Evolution and climate change are settled science. The “t’s”
are crossed and the “I’s” are dotted. The challenges in Tennessee come from
conservatives and religious people asserting opinions without the credentials
to support them. When anybody starts an argument about science with “The Bible
says - " the discussion stops there.
There is NO SCIENCE in the Bible folks.
What this is in fact is another thinly veiled assault by the
conservative right on science. And another shameless tactic of the conservative
Republican machine to con ignorant people into voting for them. Again. And it
will work. Again. The damage done by the evolution deniers is only to young
minds, making them forever small and bigoted. The damage done by the climate
change deniers are worse: We will all suffer and die due to their moronic lack
of foresight.
Pity
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1 comment:
I wonder if the same people would challenge science and gravitational forces when they are in the airplane.
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