Wednesday, December 28, 2005

WEstern Thought Wednesday: Same Old Schtick

So science is cool. I like my computer and my cellular telephone and the plane I shall soon fly to the west coast(not that I own a plane or anything). I like drinking clean water, not getting the measles and the glasses I wear to help me see things more than a foot away from my face. Science helps people in a real and quantifiable way. For example, a google search of 'new vaccine' turns up this and this. Intelligent design requires to believe in a supernatural superpower and removes all of our need for ambition. What is the point of asking a question when the answer is always the same? ID is a construct of those who would rather not know anything.

"What makes the Sun so hot, Daddy?" "Well, son, the intelligent designer." "Is that why babies keep coming out of Mommy?" "Well, yes, son, it is."

An intelligent design follower, and I use the word follower because it is a Christianic creationist, umm, creation, upon being diagnosed with small pox should, if this person's belief system were consistent, refuse these vaccines and insist that the intelligent designer would have made us resistant to these diseases if he/she/it wanted.

Let us for a moment appreciate the situation inherent in intelligent design. A being of unfathomable intelligence designed all of existence and everything and yada yada yada. Still with me? Good, cause I am about to get all weird on you. ID requires us to then believe that mosquitoes were designed as were bunnies, elephants, pandas, smallpox, chlamydia, ectopic(sp?) pregnancies, babies, genetic anomalies, penguins, polar bears, birch tree, flukes, tapeworms, etc. You may see where I am going with this. If there is an Intelligent Designer, it sure seems like he/she/it wants us to die and die horribly.

Anyway, I saw a bumper sticker on a Mercedes the other day that read: I sometimes brake for scientists. The irony, and this is a perfect example of irony as opposed to coincidence, of this statement hit me like a ton of bricks. I thought, "Here is a person who just doesn't get it."

But then you have people who say things like this. And I realized that there are levels to the whole "not getting it" thing.

First of all, Aristotle's Prime Mover could just as easily be a Big Bang, as I interpret it. I wish to readily admit for the clarity of my extremely small readership, consisting mostly of family members, that I have an incomplete grasp of Aristotle, but I have read some. His ethics are interesting even if fulsome disagrees. Don't take my word for it, however, go buy a book of Aristotle's and read it. He writes in accessible fashion and a primary source is better than Buchanan or even me.

Second, I am fairly certain that spontaneous generation is not a part of the Theory of Evolution.

Third, where is the 'Made By The Intelligent Designer' stamp on our asses? Prove it. Show me the evidence.

In conclusion, I shall simply say this: I hope you like it hot and steamy cuz, you got served, yo.

UPDATE: In the interests of my own sense of justice, here are some links to sites that support or clarify the Intelligent Design situation.

A publication.
The NY Times.
The Intelligent Design Network.
John Cashill seems to be a celebrated "independent"(their word) author among the creationists and ID people. Please note that his doctorate is in American Studies and not in evolutionary science or any other science.

PS: I guess you were right about me being angry and also about what I am angry. I stand by my prior statements made while slightly drunk on Friday night.

16 comments:

teh l4m3 said...

You may have served, but don't expect them to deliver, in part because the political allies of the ID true believers, though they have helped amplify their clout, defend ID rather lackadaisically, because they're not true believers, and you can't expect the likes of MM or the kids at The Corner of Revelations and Kristol to do much more than phone it in.

Chuckles said...

I should go piss off those losers, too. What are the urls?

Unknown said...

You get a point for the use of the word schtick.

How were your holidays?

Chuckles said...

Happy and stuff. I got to hang with my bro, momsy, dadsy, nephewsy and someone else who shall remain secret.

What about you? And you, teh, how was the war?

teh l4m3 said...

Bloody but worth it. I got a buttload of old kung fu movies, and a williams sonoma book on baking.

Unknown said...

Mine was good. I met UC's parents for the first time. After I threw up about 200 times on the plane ride there, it wasn't so bad. We saw The Family Stone prior, as did his parents, and apparently everyone was obsessing over how to greet me. Sweet peeps though. He's blessed.


Secret person? Secret Blog Lover?!! Spill it!!! Spill it...

How was Fulsome and San Fran?

Chuckles said...

fulsome, San Fran, the Other Adorable Girlfriend, NYE, The Run to the Beef, and other sundry topics shall be expounded upon Wednesday when I sober up.

Unknown said...

There is ANOTHER woman? Is she yours or Fulsome's?

Chuckles said...

fulsome's. There may be one for me out there somewhere.

Somewhere.
Somewhere.
I know I'll find you somewhere.
Somewhere.
Somewhere.

Moody, blue day here in SF.

Anonymous said...

Hey there Chuckles,

I've just been doing some surfing and happened apon your blog. WEstern Thought Wednesday: Same Old Schtick interested me, I'll be back again to see how things are progressing.

I have a website on work at home on internet... if you get a minute, why don't you drop by and have a look.

Peace,
Bradford
http://bradfordmoore.com

Anonymous said...

lol, what's with all the plugs?

Unknown said...

Chuckles, I had a nice girl for you a few years ago in DC. However, she moved back to NYC to work on a second masters. Sorry!

What kind of woman are you looking for? I have a dear friend in Durham, NC who might be perfect for you.

Chuckles said...

I am not looking any further for the moment. If any more women were to drop out of the sky and into my lap, I would become seriously paranoid.

Unknown said...

OK, I tried. I don't want to hear any complaining from you.

:)

Chuckles said...

What? Me? Complain? Never.

Unknown said...

I'm bored. No posts please!