“It’s a real social change. For years, I’ve sympathized with my American colleagues, who have to cleanse creationism from their student’s minds in the first few biology lectures. It’s not a problem we’ve faced in Britain until now.”
— Professor Steve Jones,
University College London
— I (Bill Nye) say to the grown-ups, if you want to deny evolution and live in your world, that’s completely inconsistent with the world we observe, that’s fine. But don’t make your kids do it. Because we need them. ... We need engineers that can build stuff and solve problems,” he said.
“He is right.”
— Our Views, The Advocate
In the first quotation Professor Jones laments the declining number students who believe in evolution in the United Kingdom. In the second quote, The Advocate states its opinion that “flirtations with evolution-deniers, including Gov. Bobby Jindal’s 2008 law on “alternatives” in science education, are a self-inflicted intellectual wound.”
Accordingly, it appears children must be saved from their evolution-denying parents.
Apparently a belief in evolution is necessary to be a real problem-solving engineer. No studies, data or evidence are presented to substantiate that absurd claim. In the absence of relevant facts, a heartfelt “He is right,” from The Advocate’s scientism-oriented editorial staff will have to suffice.
As an electrical engineer with more than 30 years experience, I’ve had the privilege to work with engineers of many disciplines in the United States, UK, Europe and Asia. The Advocate will be disappointed to learn that evolution is a rare workplace discussion topic. When it is discussed, it is typically in the context of the politics of high school education, rather than problem-solving.
The Advocate will be further saddened to know that college core engineering curriculums generally ignore training on evolution. It simply doesn’t contribute to the detailed design and engineering effort that is necessary to “build stuff.”
Though he disagreed with them, Charles Darwin wrote, “Authors of the highest eminence seem to be fully satisfied with the view that each species has been independently created.” In contrast The Advocate labels, denigrates and disrespects those who dare to question evolution.
I was in England when Professor Michael Reiss, director of education for Britain’s oldest and most-respected scientific institution, the Royal Society, suggested the teaching of creation along with evolution. Reiss is a devout evolutionist and thought that this comparative approach would demonstrate the superiority of evolution as an explanation of origins. Sadly, Reiss violated a fundamental tenet of evolution, i.e., thou shalt have no theories besides me. He should have known better. A survival of the fittest theology knows no mercy and no forgiveness. Reiss was removed from office.
Intolerance, like that shown by The Advocate, is alive and flourishing.
Kurt Vosburg
electrical engineer
Prairieville
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