Letters to the Editor
landsharp
Published Letters: 2 Editor's Choice: 1
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The Neverending Story
[Read the article: Survival of the unfittest]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Slack's story Survival of the Unfittest was well-done, though the stubborn hubris of the Discovery Instituters was disheartening, if not surprising. Slack's point re the complexity of evolutionary theory was spot on - the seemingly intuitive simplicity of creationism/ID is one of the movement's great strengths. The ID arguments can be tidily summed up in layman's terms in a short presentation - the vast body of knowledge that undergirds evolutionary theory can hardly be so easily summarized. And to attempt to "dumb it down" in a effort to appeal to a broader audience would be an injustice. The only solution is increased science literacy and patience.
I would add that in following the Dover trial I found many admirable citizens and scientists laboring for the cause of reason, but none impressed me so much as the science teachers of Dover who stood firm in the face of school district pressure. They refused to take the easy road and read the execrable disclaimer and for their courage they should be applauded. The Dover children are well-served by them.
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Floyd and Faith
[Read the article: King Kaufman's Sports Daily]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Whenever an athlete tests positive, they always protest their innocence (the notable exception being the cyclist David Millar, who tested positive for EPO and fessed up) therefore such protestations are not useful as a discriminator of truth. In seeking to separate faith from reason, it may be useful to consider the fact that: 1) all Floyd's other tests during the tour were negative; 2) that testosterone is generally used over the course of training not as an isolated application (esp. when one knows testing will be performed), and most important; 3) that the French lab that performed the test ALWAYS leaks positive results to the press prematurely. Can we trust a lab that consistently behaves in an unethical manner and fails to follow its own policies. In contrast, Justin Gatlin's positive result was made public only after the appropriate confirmation and notifications. The difference between justice and a witch hunt is in how the hunt is carried out.