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Jimmy Echols wrote that Charles Darwin in "The Descent of Man" stated that "blacks" were the missing link between apes and "superior" European men. Echols claims that Darwin believed that natural selection would eliminate "blacks" and that whoever worked to eliminate those races "does good work."
No such things were written. Darwin was not only an abolitionist, he believed racial differences were superficial and humans are one species.
Here is a real quote from Descent of Man: "When naturalists observe a close agreement in numerous small details between two or more domestic races ... they use this fact as an argument that they are descended from a common progenitor ...
Consequently that all should be classed under the same species. The same argument may be applied with much force to the races of man." Darwin plainly states all races are the same species.
Some fall victim to a misquoted line from "The Descent of Man:" "With savages, the weak in body or mind are soon eliminated. We civilized men, on the other hand, do our utmost to check the process of elimination. We build asylums for the imbecile ... thus the weak members of civilized societies propagate ... no one who has attended to the breeding of domestic animals will doubt that this must be highly injurious to the race of man."
Many people stop the quote here so it will sound like Darwin supports eugenics. Let's continue: "The aid which we feel impelled to give to the helpless is mainly an incidental result of the instinct of sympathy, which was originally acquired as part of the social instincts ... nor could we check our sympathy, if so urged by hard reason, without deterioration in the noblest part of our nature." Very clearly he believes coerced population control would erode our noblest character.
Jerry Callahan wrote that the second Law of Thermodynamics disproves evolution. This is untrue. The law states that a closed system loses energy, e.g., a pot removed from a stove will lose its heat. Due to the sun, the earth is not a closed system. If someone says nothing of science, but says that they find it easier to believe in a creator than chance, I can only disagree and wonder, without evidence, how.
Why do people attack evolution when it is evident they don't understand it? Why are people calling science and evolution "religions?" Evolution may explain from where we get our internal sense of right. However, one would be a fool or power-hungry manipulator to use the theory of evolution as the focal point of deriving ethics. Religion, too, has been twisted for such purposes.
Science is a method of discovering facts. Science does not declare right. Who claims it can? Yet, people claim science is threatening our ethics. Science does threaten our belief that we can pollute our gift the earth, and interrupt a "possibly created" eco-system and face no consequences. Why do some people find this unbelievable and offensive?
Also, remember the eight and ninth commandments -no false witness. Stop lying about Darwin.
Brandon Givens
Gainesville
There are cases to be made for both Bible and science
Let's get this right. I am a Christian. God also gave me a brain. Plants and animals do evolve. Bacteria in hospitals evolve by natural selection to resist antibiotics. One study showed a permanent change in a species of bird on an island due to one severe drought (beaks are now larger to eat different food since smaller beak birds did not survive).
The list could go on forever. And unless God is playing an immense joke on us, the paleontology record has millions of examples of plants and animals changing over time. Natural selection is so proven that it is used successfully to predict many aspects of the natural world and human actions.
That said, the letter writer in Saturday's paper was correct when he questioned how DNA could come into being. Such a complex chemical make up could not by any conceivable means have happened by accident. He could have also added "what does science say existed before the Big Bang?" (Note: atheist and renowned physicist Steven Hawking said "time did not exist." That was all he could come up with.)
And correct, the Bible is a directions book for our relationship to God. But it is not a science book. Believe what you wish, but please do not tell me the sun will not come up tomorrow or that evolution does not happen. Thank you.
David Long
Gainesville
Thanks for finding lost friend
I would like to thank all the people in the Gainesville area for their kindness and concern in the search for our friend, Brenda Cox. I was one of many who was involved in the search. Everyone I came in contact with at convenience stores, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, etc. was so kind and helpful.
I kept remarking to my friends here in South Carolina what a nice place Northeast Georgia seemed to be with friendly and helpful people. We are blessed to have found her safe and appreciate all those in the area who took the time to care during this ordeal.
Melissa Hood
Piedmont, S.C.