This Day in Peace History: On this day in 1859, "British naturalist Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species, which explained his theory of evolution. The basis for the theory is natural selection, the process by which organisms change over time as a result of changes in heritable (genetically based) physical or behavioral traits.
Such changes allow an organism to better adapt to its environment and help it survive and have more offspring.

Evolution is now universally accepted among scientists, and is the organizing principle upon which modern biological and related sciences are based."

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From MSNBC's 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Nov. 7, 2008 while discussing Sarah Palin's future, Lawrence O'Donnell slams Pat Buchanan for the GOP embracing ignorance and asks him if he believes in evolution and Buchanan's retorts that if O'Donnell believes he's descended from a monkey he would understand it. When you're losing an argument, resort to insulting the other guy and call him a monkey. Class act there Pat.

  This week, Americans were introduced to Wrong-Way McCain. To be sure, it's the same John McCain ("McSame") who would continue the policies of George W. Bush that 80% of Americans believe have put the country on the wrong track. It's also the same "Jukebox John" who has changed his tune 61 times on issues foreign and domestic, including a dizzying 10 times in two weeks back in June. But as he showed repeatedly over the past several days, Wrong-Way McCain is also the Republican presidential nominee who simply can't keep his stories straight.

Whether the result of crass political opportunism, transparent deceit or just plain confusion, on at least 7 occasions this week alone, Wrong Way McCain couldn't remember what he stood for, if anything at all.

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ARS Technica:

 As we noted last month, a number of states have been considering laws that, under the guise of "academic freedom," single out evolution for special criticism. Most of them haven't made it out of the state legislatures, and one that did was promptly vetoed. But the last of these bills under consideration, the Louisiana Science Education Act (LSEA), was enacted by the signature of Governor Bobby Jindal yesterday. The bill would allow local school boards to approve supplemental classroom materials specifically for the critique of scientific theories, allowing poorly-informed board members to stick their communities with Dover-sized legal fees.

The text of the LSEA suggests that it's intended to foster critical thinking, calling on the state Board of Education to "assist teachers, principals, and other school administrators to create and foster an environment within public elementary and secondary schools that promotes critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of scientific theories." Unfortunately, it's remarkably selective in its suggestion of topics that need critical thinking, as it cites scientific subjects "including, but not limited to, evolution, the origins of life, global warming, and human cloning."

The bill has been opposed by every scientific society that has voiced a position on it, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science. AAAS CEO Alan Leshner warned that the bill would "unleash an assault against scientific integrity, leaving students confused about science and unprepared to excel in a modern workforce." Read on...

Jindal is definitely vying for the far right base of the GOP and this move will score big points for him. The rabid right-wing base of the party can't stand McCain, so Jindal might prove to be a good fit for them. As The Huffington Post reports, Jindal has joined the GOP's bold march backwards.

Ben Stein, a former Nixon aide and game-show host, probably best known for his role as a monotone teacher in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” released an anti-evolution documentary recently called, “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.” The premise, as I understand it, is that those who reject modern biology struggle professionally in the sciences.

Kevin Drum recently saw the movie, and reported back that towards the end, the documentary veered into the insane: “Stein spends the final half hour wandering around Dachau and telling us outright that his real motivation for attacking evolution isn’t any real flaw in the theory, but his belief that Darwinism leads directly to Nazi-ism, eugenics, atheism, the breakdown of morals, and mass slaughter. Can’t have that, so evolution needs to go too.”

Regrettably, Kevin wasn’t exaggerating. Stein recently chatted with Paul Crouch, Jr. about his film.

Stein: When we just saw that man, I think it was Mr. Myers [i.e. biologist P.Z. Myers], talking about how great scientists were, I was thinking to myself the last time any of my relatives saw scientists telling them what to do they were telling them to go to the showers to get gassed … that was horrifying beyond words, and that’s where science — in my opinion, this is just an opinion — that’s where science leads you.

Crouch: That’s right.

Stein: …Love of God and compassion and empathy leads you to a very glorious place, and science leads you to killing people.

Crouch: Good word, good word.

I vaguely recall the point, not too long ago, when Stein was considered something of a mainstream figure at the intersection of politics and entertainment. He’d show up on Fox News, and then make a cameo on “Married with Children.” He seemed quirky, conservative, and harmless.

And now he’s going on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, telling a crazed televangelist that science kills, and that modern biology led to the Nazi Holocaust. It’s breathtaking.

(blogs.sun) The good news is, Florida, for the first time in its history, will feature the word “evolution” in its state science standards. The bad news is, the reality-based community in the state had to make a compromise in order to get the word in there.

Florida’s State Board of Education has voted to use the term “scientific theory of evolution” in new science standards, the first time the word “evolution” has been included.

Florida’s current standards require the teaching of evolution using code words like “change over time.”

Adding the term “scientific theory” before the term “evolution” was a modified proposal at least one board member called a compromise, not standards proposed originally to the committee. The option to include “scientific theory” was made late last week.

The board narrowly passed the proposed change, voting 4-3, after more than an hour of public comment and additional discussion by the board.

Religious fundamentalists, not surprisingly, wanted to keep the “e” word out altogether, but were willing to accept the compromise, because it emphasized the word “theory.”

It reminds me of one of my biggest creationist pet peeves: they have no idea what a scientific “theory” is.

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Ronald Bailey, Reason’s science correspondent, took on an interesting project this week: documenting where every major-party presidential candidate stands on evolutionary biology.

Oddly enough, this has taken on far more political significance this election cycle than the last two. It started back in May, in one of the more memorable debate moments of the year, when John McCain was asked a straightforward question: “Do you believe in evolution?” (After a pregnant pause, McCain said, “Yes.”)

The Politico’s Jim VandeHei opened it up to the stage: “I’m curious, is there anybody on the stage that does not agree, believe in evolution?” The camera didn’t show the 10 candidates for very long, but three would-be presidents raised their hand: Sam Brownback, Mike Huckabee, and Tom Tancredo. Later, Ron Paul acknowledged that he doesn’t “accept” modern biology, either.

So, where do we stand overall? Dems do pretty well. Republicans, not so much.

Way back in May, in one of the more memorable debate moments of the year, John McCain was asked a straightforward question: “Do you believe in evolution?”

It’s the 21st century and McCain is an educated man, so it should have been an easy one, but he’s a Republican, and he needs to appeal to a far-right base that has little use for modern science — so he hesitated. After a pregnant pause, McCain said, “Yes.”

The Politico’s Jim VandeHei opened it up to the stage: “I’m curious, is there anybody on the stage that does not agree, believe in evolution?” The camera didn’t show the 10 candidates for very long, but three would-be presidents raised their hand: Sam Brownback, Mike Huckabee, and Tom Tancredo.

As it turns out, though, there was one more evolution-denier on the stage who, for whatever reason, didn’t raise his hand: Ron Paul.

Digby makes the case that we probably shouldn't be surprised.

PBS Nova: "Judgment Day- Intelligent Design on Trial" takes an in depth look at Kitzmiller v. Dover School District, the case that tore apart the community of Dover, Pennsylvania, in the 2005 court battle over the teaching evolution in public schools.

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This Nova special takes viewers beyond the headlines of the court decisions and through interviews with key players in the case, including scientists, Dover parents, teachers, and town officials, it shows how this wasn't just a court case that would have serious implications for the future of science education in America and the separation of church and state, it literally pitted "friend against friend, and neighbor against neighbor" within the small community that serves as a microcosm of an America still divided over evolution.

You can watch the entire episode online here.

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You gotta know that any segment on Creationism (aka Intelligent Design) with Bill O'Reilly that starts off this way is going to be just a load of dreck but incredibly funny:

In the "Unresolved Problems" segment tonight, how did life on Earth begin? Religious people believe a higher power created the universe. Secular Progressives say all kinds of things, but God is not in the equation. And some believe that those who subscribe to Intelligent Design-that is a deity created life-are being persecuted in America.

Billo brings on Ben Stein to discuss his new movie, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, and how unfair it is that these mean, close-minded, atheist Darwinists don't want Creationism to be considered on par with other "scientific" theories.

Richard Dawkins doesn't. Especially when Stein and the producers pull a fast one and make a much different movie than the one they pitched to him.

NY Times: (reg. req'd)

A few months ago, the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins received an e-mail message from a producer at Rampant Films inviting him to be interviewed for a documentary called "Crossroads."

The film, with Ben Stein, the actor, economist and freelance columnist, as its host, is described on Rampant's Web site as an examination of the intersection of science and religion. Dr. Dawkins was an obvious choice. An eminent scientist who teaches at Oxford University in England, he is also an outspoken atheist who has repeatedly likened religious faith to a mental defect.

But now, Dr. Dawkins and other scientists who agreed to be interviewed say they are surprised - and in some cases, angered - to find themselves not in "Crossroads" but in a film with a new name and one that makes the case for intelligent design, an ideological cousin of creationism. The film, "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," also has a different producer, Premise Media.

The film is described in its online trailer as "a startling revelation that freedom of thought and freedom of inquiry have been expelled from publicly-funded high schools, universities and research institutions." According to its Web site, the film asserts that people in academia who see evidence of a supernatural intelligence in biological processes have unfairly lost their jobs, been denied tenure or suffered other penalties as part of a scientific conspiracy to keep God out of the nation's laboratories and classrooms.

Mr. Stein appears in the film's trailer, backed by the rock anthem "Bad to the Bone," declaring that he wants to unmask "people out there who want to keep science in a little box where it can't possibly touch God."

I have a t-shirt from Perrspectives that I love, which lists the Conservative Threat Advisory System. I'd say that Stein pushed the threat to "Severe," wouldn't you?

I am one of those very lucky people who primarily telecommutes for work. But because I am working, it's very rare for me to watch daytime TV. After watching this clip that C&Ler Arlen tipped us to, all I can say is "whew!" Because if I had watched this little bit of "The View" I might have thrown something at the TV set.

When new co-host Sherri Shepherd told co-host Whoopi Goldberg that she did not believe in evolution, Goldberg decided to test out just how far her rejection of accepted scientific theories went.

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You are now looking at the result of the concentrated effort to dumb down America. All I can say: bring back Rosie!

Transcripts available here

Meet the new chairman of Texas' Board of Education.

The Texas Freedom Network (TFN) on Tuesday revealed a side of “intelligent design” proponents rarely seen by the public at large. The group released a transcript and recording of an extraordinarily candid speech given in 2005 by recently named State Board of Education Chairman Ron McLeroy.

McLeroy told a gathering at

Grace Bible Church in Bryan, Texas, of his efforts to expunge evolution from the state’s high school biology textbooks. “Back in November 2003, we finished [the]...adoption process for the biology textbooks in Texas.... I want to tell you all the arguments made by all the intelligent-design group, all the creationist intelligent design people, I can guarantee the other side heard exactly nothing,” he said.

He went on, condemning other Christian board members for not following his lead.

It gets worse. The Wall has the whole story.

With three admitted skeptics of modern biology seeking the Republican presidential nomination (Huckabee, Brownback, and Tancredo), there’s far more interest than usual in evolution and politics. USA Today added to the interest late last week with a report that showed two-thirds of Americans believe “creationism, the idea that God created humans in their present form within the past 10,000 years, is definitely or probably true.”

Gallup followed up today with some pertinent details — including the partisan breakdown.

The majority of Republicans in the United States do not believe the theory of evolution is true and do not believe that humans evolved over millions of years from less advanced forms of life. This suggests that when three Republican presidential candidates at a May debate stated they did not believe in evolution, they were generally in sync with the bulk of the rank-and-file Republicans whose nomination they are seeking to obtain.

Independents and Democrats are more likely than Republicans to believe in the theory of evolution. But even among non-Republicans there appears to be a significant minority who doubt that evolution adequately explains where humans came from.

The problem isn’t just that Americans in general are confused, but rather that the GOP is throwing off the curve.

  A show of hands please... Let me remind you this is the only top vote-getting question asked.

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(From left to right: That's Brownback, Huckabee and Tancredo with their hands raised.)