Published: December 24, 2007 04:34 pm         

Letters to the Editor

Fundamentalists vs. Darwin

Dear Editor,

Most folks around here take a fundamentalist view of the Bible and consequently reject evolution as accounting for the diversity of life. Indeed, they even reject scientific accounts of the creation of the earth and solar system.

When the subject of evolution arises, Darwin usually bears the brunt of the controversy as witness David May’s article on the human/dinosaur footprints and the sole letter to the editor the following week which reviled and vilified Darwin. I don’t have any hope of persuading people differently; but I would like to correct some factual problems that seem to be current in most of these discussions.

Darwin did not invent evolution. By the time of Darwin, the evidence for evolution was so overwhelming that the majority of scientists already accepted some form of evolution, with most trying to fit it into the Biblical creation story by claiming that geological ages represented ’days’ in the Biblical account.

The problem with this pre-Darwin position was that scientists had no actual way of demonstrating that evolution could work. No one had ever witnessed the inception of a new species. So at that time, evolution wasn’t even a theory; it was just an idea to account for the relationships between species.

Darwin was the first to propose a mechanism by which evolution might actually be accomplished. His idea was that evolution was driven by natural selection. In his book, ’Origin of the Species,’ he proposed that species arose from other species over long periods of time because beneficial traits were favored by natural selection and thus reinforced subsequent generations.

But most scientists were unhappy with natural selection. The main argument against it was that animals with beneficial traits would breed with other animals without these traits, and so those traits would become less and less pronounced in successive generations-the deviations would simply be bred out. The only reason beneficial traits had been sustained in farm animals (and plants) was that farmers were selective in their breeding, a process that could not be duplicated in the wild. By the end of his life, even Darwin near rejected natural selection as the progenitor of evolution.

The rejection by the scientific community of natural selection did not mean a rejection of evolution. Evolution was not ’disproved,’ far from it. Scientists were looking for a better way to account for the evolution. As scientists continued to work through the 20th century, it became increasingly evident that genetic mutation was the key to evolution. While natural selection was certainly present, it was more of a support mechanism than a prime generator.

Today, there seems to be no objection from fundamentalist Christians about scientific facts such as genetics and DNA. Everyone takes for granted the ’relationship’ between individuals and animals as evidenced in their genes. Yet Darwin didn’t have these powerful tools to help him. He simply had to make a leap of faith (always risky for a scientist) that natural selection could generate new species. We know now that it is insufficient to account for the diversity of life.

This does not diminish Darwin’s considerable contribution to science. He was evolution’s first and most formidable champion. Even without the tools of genetics and DNA he gave us a comprehensive framework with which to view all of life. No longer would species be seen as separate phenomenon, for all were interrelated in the great tapestry of life. This powerful and beautiful image provides the foundation today for all life sciences. That is why Darwin is so revered among scientists.

Gerald Warfield, Mineral Wells

Stand up, speak out

Dear Editor,

We are grateful that a dangerous child predator will soon be locked up. We hope that others who saw, suspected or suffered Rev. (Eric Correa) Jiminez’ crimes will find the courage to come forward, get help and call law enforcement.

When victims and witnesses stay silent, abuse continues. But when they speak up, at least there’s a chance for healing, justice and prevention.

David Clohessy, National Director, SNAP - Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, St. Louis Mo.

Participate in election process

Dear Editor,

I’ve been hearing so much from so many people about the sad state of the economy, the soaring gas prices, the soaring grocery and electric bills, etc. The list goes on and on.

I’m finding that these same people are those that couldn’t find time to vote in the 2004 election and think that politics are not of utmost importance right now. It is now, in these short three months before Election Day, that you can educate yourselves as to how much politics affects your lives and which candidates will be the best for you.

Ways to do this include:

’ Attend the New Democratic Political Action Institute meetings the last Tuesday of every month at the Cedarview Pavilion at 7 p.m. These meetings can enhance your knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and how democracy works.

’ Attend local political organizations’ monthly meetings. Texas Democratic Women of Palo Pinto County meet the second Friday of each month at noon. E-mail tdwppc@gmail.com for more info.

’ Attend the Palo Pinto County Democratic Club meetings as well as meetings conducted by our local Republicans to find out why people are affiliated with each party.

’ Attend functions where candidates will be speaking. Friday, Aug. 15, at noon, Texas candidate for U.S. Senate, Rick Noriega will be speaking at a barbecue luncheon at the Mineral Wells Veterans of Foreign Wars post. Come find out first hand his plans for this country.

’ Attend rallies and other functions hosted by each local party to better understand why people are so passionate about their party and their candidates.

’ If you’re not registered to vote, get that way! Over the next three months, you will find several voter registration booths at Wal-Mart and Metro on Saturday mornings. Get registered there or at the courthouse in Palo Pinto. The deadline for registering to be able to vote in the Nov. 4 elections is Oct. 5.

’ Participate in early voting. Avoid the long lines and crowds on Election Day and get your votes in early; then come to the election night celebrations outside the Palo Pinto County Courthouse Nov. 4.

’ Educate yourself. Google the political parties and understand what it means to be affiliated. Google your candidates and find out their stands on the issues and goals for their terms. Visit the library and read books published by the candidates or newspaper articles regarding the different candidates. Be objective and open-minded before making your decisions.

Many, many people have died to make this country free and to give you your right to vote. Voting is not just your privilege; it is truly a civic duty. We all owe it to those people not only to vote, but to make an educated decision about who we vote for and why. Do your part!

Sincerely, Shauna Bradshaw, Mineral Wells