THE CATS IN THE CRADLE

As is so often the case with me, a thought to write about hits when I hear the words to a song I have heard a thousand times before.
Sal and I are getting ready for a BBQ for her faculty and staff, and about 110 answered the RSVP. Pandora is providing the beat for the work getting ready. Then, JC, (the other JC, Johnny Cash) came on with “The Cats in the Cradle”. I stopped and listened. Damn, I though, that’s me. Well maybe not completely but it did go home. My boys grew up without me around much. Divorce does that sometimes. I didn’t want it or like it. They turned out not “just like me” as the song goes. They are happily married the first time out and getting on well with their lives. They live in distant places, and we see each other infrequently, not enough. They both have very busy and different lives and I am proud of them.

The chance to be the soccer dad and the scout dad and the cry-on-the-shoulder dad passed long ago, and I wish it were otherwise. But it did and as you all know well, you can’t go back. Retirement is fast approaching, and with that we will have some time to go where they live, and maybe hang out for a bit. Not to be intrusive, just to be with family.

My point in putting this out there? A lesson for all you newly childrened families. Do your best to be there always for your kids, and take the time to throw a ball and go for a walk or swim. And if the worst happens and you are separated from them, try to keep close. You never get that time back.

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But the Bible says . . . .

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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