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Friday, January 22, 2010

A Respectful Exchange of Ideas

I read the opinion pages of the local rag. I should know better. This goes on every day. A respectful exchange of ideas. Now, right up front, I will admit to being arrogant, disrespectful, and a master of straw men and red herrings. A couple days ago there was a commentary on health care that quoted Allen Quist as a primary source. Allen Quist on the health care bill, “This is the most insidious, evil piece of legislation I have ever seen in my life… Every one of us has to be totally committed to killing this travesty… I have to kill this bill.”. He is a man that I consider a complete wack job. I could not contain myself. There were other comments, but these are mine or the resulting thread.

Posted by GunnarBerg on January 20, 2010 at 6:20 p.m.

Allen Quist?!? You have got to be kidding.

Posted by diesel on January 21, 2010 at 8:38 a.m.

In response to Gunnarberg's post. This is a reflection of the liberal arrogance that prevails on the left. Some one, like Allen Quist in this case, cannot be credible because they hold to core conservative values. Mr Quist is actually highly educated and has been a college professor, something that only seems credible if they are liberal.

Posted by GunnarBerg on January 21, 2010 at 9:31 a.m.

diesel,
Tim Pawlenty is educated. I do not agree with his politics, but I do not think he is a fool. I do not know if believing in creationism is a "core conservative value". Allen Quist writes curriculum guides for creationism. To me that is like saying the earth is flat and the center of the universe. If thinking that Allen Quist is an educated fool makes me arrogant, so be it. I'll wear that badge proudly.

(I did so want to say, "For Christ's sake, Allen Quist writes curriculum...", but opted not to do so.)

Posted by diesel on January 21, 2010 at 2:39 p.m.

Gunnarberg-
It takes a great deal of speculation to believe that our grandparents were monkeys. In truth, the sientific evidence is far more conclusive to the creation concept of this planet than other scientifically paper thin theories like evolution. Sedimentary rock has both human and dinosaur fossils in it. As well, recently a whale carcass was found that would have had to have not decayed for several million years if accepted sientific beliefs were used. As well, why has there never been a complete evolutionary skeleton found, just bits and pieces of bone?
I guess when a person's bitterness rules their thoughts, it is hard to be objective. The evidence speaks for itself!
As a matter of fact, the odds of all of the creationism backed scientific evidence being disproved is absolutely miniscule, gunnar, take off your secular humanist goggles, and seee reality!

Posted by GunnarBerg on January 21, 2010 at 4:19 p.m.

I am speechless. Believe what you will.

At this point I gave up, but someone with more staying power jumped in.

Posted by swwinter on January 21, 2010 at 11:40 p.m.

"It takes a great deal of speculation to believe that our grandparents were monkeys." --It takes a great deal of misunderstanding of what evolution really means to even make a statement so ignorant.

"In truth, the sientific evidence is far more conclusive to the creation concept of this planet than other scientifically paper thin theories like evolution."--Well, that settles it then. The real "truth" according to Garp is that the planet is about 10,000 years old and not a day older. Debate closed.

"Sedimentary rock has both human and dinosaur fossils in it."-- That settles it again! Real proof, real honest, real science!

"As well, recently a whale carcass was found that would have had to have not decayed for several million years if accepted sientific beliefs were used."-- Well, there you have it! Of course it's only logical to conclude that all "accepted scientific beliefs" are, well, bunk.

"As well, why has there never been a complete evolutionary skeleton found, just bits and pieces of bone?" --That's a brilliant observation, Of course! If a whole complete skeleton has never been found then the other parts of the skeletons don't mean anything! It's like they didn't even happen. Ya, that's the ticket.

"I guess when a person's bitterness rules their thoughts, it is hard to be objective." And objectivety is your strong suit I see. Why of course you'd know a thing or two about being objective seeing as how you aren't about to let any religious beliefs influence you one little bit.

"The evidence speaks for itself!"--It most certainly does sir, even more than you think.

"As a matter of fact, the odds of all of the creationism backed scientific evidence being disproved is absolutely miniscule, gunnar, take off your secular humanist goggles, and seee reality!" --I guess we know whose ancestors forced us to believe the sun and planets circled the Earth don't we? Forced us to believe it for 1200 years. Didn't the church kill a lot of people over that one.

And so it goes on and on. For Christ's sake, these people vote. For Christ's sake.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree with "diesel" when he says that "the evidence speaks for itself."

mw

Jonny Hamachi said...

Millions actually believe the Bible is literal fact, but think climate change is a grand, devious ruse.

Anonymous said...

Yes, these people vote. Next year they will vote in droves and so enjoy making the rest of us suffer for their faith--if Obama doesn't get off his polite and compromising ass and throw some Presidential punches. Dex

Justine Valinotti said...

Why do some people get so upset upon learning that we descended from apes? I mean, no ape ever falsely claimed that a country had WMDs as an excuse to invade it. And, to my knowledege, no ape has ever beaten up another ape over his race or sexuality. I don't think apes have the death penalty, either.

What a descent it has been!

Margadant said...

You're in an educated paradise. Out here "diesel" would be responding quoting the Old Testament, chapter and verse. It's a slow day when there aren't at least two letters to the editor in the local rag praying for our collective souls and citing us to multiple Scripture proofs. And amazingly, about a third of those letters aren't in response to anyting or anyone else -- just witnessing, I guess.

Doohickie said...

In truth, the sientific evidence is far more conclusive to the creation concept of this planet than other scientifically paper thin theories like evolution.

I actually cackled at that line. :- P

I guess when a person's bitterness rules their thoughts, it is hard to be objective. The evidence speaks for itself!

I thought the conservative wingnuts were the bitter ones.....

Mimbres Man said...

Sometimes when I see the absurdity of human behavior, I realize that we are not far removed from our ape ancestors...only 3 million years or so.
*****
I teach high school/middle school science overseas. The company I work for is run by a conservative gentleman and the science curriculum totally skips over evolution. It is not even mentioned. I mentioned this gap to my students the other day, mulled it over for 2 or 3 minutes, then moved on. I have a lot of stuff to cover in a short amount of time.

They are going to update the curriculum this summer and I was asked by my director if I wanted to take part. I'd rather ride my bicycle this coming summer, so I passed.

Anonymous said...

Keep posting stuff like this i really like it