The ten Republican Presidential candidates met last night for their first debate. While most of the effort seemed dedicated toward pinning the Iraq debacle on Donald Rumsfeld, the “WTF” moment of the night for me came when the candidates were asked which of them did not believe in evolution.
Three candidates raised their hands. They were Sen. Sam Brownback, Gov. Mike Huckabee, and Rep. Tom Tancredo. Huckabee later clarified that while he doesn’t believe in evolution, he does support it being taught in schools. (Mighty intellectually progressive of you there, Mike.)
Now arguably, none of these guys is in any danger of getting to the White House. But that hardly abates the reality that they all hold, or recently held, significant positions within government. This level of intellectual disingenuousness should not be tolerated in our leaders. But that’s a separate rant.
What really got me was the very formation of the question. The implicit assertion that evolution was a function of “belief”. Evolution is a fundamental scientific principle. It is a model built on observed data, not a belief. Would anyone have been able to suppress a giggle if the question had been, “By a show of hands, which of you does not believe in gravity?” Further, would anyone who raised their hand have a campaign life expectancy that went into the following morning?
I have no expectation that politicians lack ignorance on every topic, especially ones outside their area of expertise. I expect that when confronted with issues on which they are ignorant, they will seek out appropriate counsel and alleviate that ignorance. That is the hallmark of any educated person. But to assert that evolution is a subject of belief, and then to proclaim your disbelief is an unequivocal admission of stupidity.
There is a distinction between ignorance and stupidity. Ignorance can be cured.
I don’t believe in Santa Claus, but I’m not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don’t agree with Darwin, but I didn’t go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his Theory of Evolution
Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game.
So what’s the big deal? It’s not like somebody is up there reading the entire book of Acts. They’re just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.
But it’s a Christian prayer, some will argue.
Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect — somebody chanting Hare Krishna?
If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer. If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer. If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.And I wouldn’t be offended.
It wouldn’t bother me one bit.
When in Rome …
But what about the atheists? is another argument.
What about them?
Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We’re not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that’s asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer!
Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell hundreds of thousands what they can and cannot do. I don’t think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world’s foundations.
Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating; to pray before we go to sleep.
Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a
handful of people and their lawyers are telling us
to cease praying.
God, help us.
And if that last sentence offends you, well . .. just sue me.
The silent majority has been silent too long.. It’s time we let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority don’t care what they want. It is time the majority rules! It’s time we tell them, you don’t have to pray; you don’t have to say the pledge of allegiance; you don’t have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right … But by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back …
and we WILL WIN!
God bless us one and all … especially those who denounce Him , God bless America, despite all her faults. She is still the greatest nation of all.
God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God.
May 2007 be the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions.
Keep looking up.
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