Republicrat Rant #1: On Evolution

Just in time for election season, I'll be sounding off on the more irritating aspects of the two party system every so often. Enjoy- and please, disgree with me!

Evolution. Can't we all just agree that it's a theory and understanding how theories work is an important concept for our children to understand- especially if our goal is a scientifically literate workforce for the 21st Century?

You would have thought that this would be a no-brainer, but apparently politicians love to pander to the Christian fundamentalists that still have issues with evolution, even after all this time. Rick Perry, newly minted upper tier front runner for the Republican nomination waded into this mess saying:

Rick Perry continued to voice skepticism about evolution during a campaign stop in South Carolina Friday, telling a supporter "God is how we got here."

On Thursday, in New Hampshire, Perry told a woman and her son that he regarded evolution as "a theory that's out there" and one that's "got some gaps in it.”

When a woman in South Carolina congratulated him for his remarks Friday, Perry replied “Well, God is how we got here. God may have done it in the blink of the eye or he may have done it over this long period of time, I don't know. But I know how it got started."

And while there's nothing technically wrong with what he said- or theologically either- I myself tend to view the Higher Power as the prime mover in the evolutionary process it's the wishy-washy pandering that makes me crazy. Evolution is a theory that 'has some gaps in it?' Are you serious? Are you an evolutionary biologist now? Are you remotely qualified to say that?

It's time to stop pandering to religious Fundamentalism sit down and have the following conversation:

Evolution is a theory and not a fact. (Those damn stickers that Republicans put on textbooks make me absolutely insane with rage. It's called the effing THEORY of evolution! Not the FACT of evolution! Grrrrr...) If any science teachers in any school of any kind in this country are saying otherwise, they should be fired. And you know how many science teachers you will find saying that? Absolutely none. (I'm willing to bet money on it.)

Theories are when people look at all the available evidence and say 'this is the best we can come up with.' Science- or more specifically Charles Darwin looked at this question and came up with the theory of evolution which was the best science could do at the time and nothing has beaten it since! My limited crude understanding of the scientific method is that any theory, in order to be rigorous must be able to be tested. In other words- for any given theory, scientists have a duty to try and prove it wrong! (If they care too...) So all the religious fundies out there freaking out about this- stop undermining science education and tell your kids to say their prayers, read their Bible and study hard in science class because you want a better explanation for how we all got here.

Evolution and belief in God are not mutually exclusive. Like Governor Goodhair (bless the late, great Molly Ivins for that excellent nickname!) said- God could have done over a long period of time or in the blink of an eye. Anything is possible. But that also said- intelligent design does NOT belong in a science classroom. Faith cannot be subjected to the scientific method- nor should it be, since such examination would ultimately undermine faith itself. Leave creationism (because let's not fool ourselves, that's what ID is) in the Bible. You can be a fantastic Christian with faith that will move mountains and still be scientifically literate and accept the theory of evolution. It's time to stop pretending otherwise.