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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 2, 2008

It's Still A Theory

Regarding "Focus on Science, Not Ideology In Setting Education Standards" (Our Opinion, Dec. 27):

A great majority of Americans of all religions and faiths believe in a creator God. Having that "fact" to stand on, most of us will certainly concur that from fossil records there has been some evolving within a species. However, the theory that (1) humans have their origins in other pre-existing types, (2) something was either formed from nothing to begin the world, or (3) the world was created from a big bang or from some ooze, requires a lot more faith, to me, than believing that a wonderful Creator did it all.

Darwin's theory, after all, was (and still is) a theory, and he did not have all of the facts that DNA can now provide. I feel quite sure that his theory would "evolve" if he was alive now and privy to newer scientific facts.

So what if creationism can't be scientifically proven? Can you prove the "Big Bang?" Where did those atoms originate?

LAURIE BENTLEY

Tampa

Evidence Was Lacking

As always when the Tribune utters its faith in Darwin's theory of evolution, it never sites any evidence that it considers as irrefutable proof of the theory.

For example, for more than 100 years the evolutionists bet the whole theory if on nothing else but the concept of vestigial organs. Now, no evolutionist uses that concept because science has caught up with the stupid hypothesis. Such as, the appendix and the tonsils are not vestigial. They have function. Now, the evolutionist agrees so they "modified" the guess and agree that the appendix and tonsils are not vestigial, but the Trib contends now that these organs are not needed or they are changing. Thus, the Trib does not know if the organs are coming or going!

Survival of the fittest is circular reasoning. Darwin did not know or understand genetics. That is why evolutionists came up with Neo-Darwinism.

BILL DANIEL

Plant City

Let The Kids Decide

I can't remember when I heard anything more disgusting come out of your liberal editorial department than to support the "scientific theory" of evolution being taught as science to our innocent kids. You are either insensitive or just plain ignorant.

Charles Darwin's theory, and it is only that, espouses the survival of the fittest. The stronger species and races will survive while the weaker ones will disappear. Adolf Hitler was a fan of Darwin's and, as you will recall, was responsible for the deaths of more human beings than any other single person in history.

Science is the discovery of facts that have been arrived at through the testing and observations of many theories. If we are going to study and try to determine the origin of the human race, it only makes sense to include other explanations. No one has ever witnessed first hand the evolution of anything, but our educators want to put blinders on our kids and teach them only one theory at the exclusion of others, i.e. intelligent design.

Let the kids decide. It only requires a measure of common sense.

DARWIN VANCE

Spring Hill

Evolution Isn't Science

I was disappointed to find out that in your esteemed opinion our children should not be taught any alternative to evolution. It is interesting that the liberal movement in the education system, whose mantra is "tolerance" and "diversity," cannot tolerate a dissenting point of view on origins.

Evolution is not science; it has never been repeated or observed. You fail to realize that there are well-respected scientists, Christian and non-Christian alike, who reject evolution. The human body is more intricate than anything man would be able to duplicate. It takes common sense to believe that someone had to design it. It takes a "quantum leap of faith" to believe that it just happened. Liberalism understands that its iron grip on society will be dissolved if we place our faith in someone more powerful.

STEPHEN HOLMES

Tampa

Truth Over 'Belief'

I find it interesting that intelligent design is viewed as an improvable hypothesis yet evolution, specifically that which is based on macro-evolution, is seemingly solidified as fact though it too is an improvable hypothesis since we cannot witness this act in process either.

The simple idea that random chaos created an organized universe with organized galaxies and a planet both capable and having life as ours is like dropping random pieces of electronic components from the top of the empire state building and ending up with a fully functioning super-computer which even knows how to run on electricity (the available energy source). Keep science just that and let truth, facts and logic outweigh "belief."

MICHAEL MEANS

Tampa

Religion Halting Progress

Regarding "God, Science, And The Presidential Campaign" (Other Views, Dec. 26):

John West seems to have his facts incorrect. It's a shame that we have to have "self-proclaimed defenders of science" in this country, but when you have an administration that has virtually stopped funding stem-cell research because of religious beliefs, it is time to speak up.

The United States is falling behind the world in what might be the greatest medical breakthrough in history. Bush gave 78 lines of stem cells for federally funded research in 2001. Most of those lines are no longer useful to research due to contamination over time. There are thousands of frozen embryos left over from couples using in vitro fertilization as a means of having a child. These embryos will never turn into anything if they are not placed in a woman's womb. Is it more moral to just throw them out?

Here in our own state we have educators who want to bring intelligent design into the classroom. I agree it should be taught in schools - Sunday, not public, schools.

F.M. YOUNGLOVE

Brandon

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