All That's Missing Are the Links...

If this article is correct (Researchers: Ancient human remains found in Israel) then ‘modern’ human beings were in the wrong place at the wrong time… at least as far as the Theory of Evolution, in it's current incarnation, would have us believe.

Isn’t it funny that with every new ‘break-through’ discovery of archeology there is also a required revision to the Theory of Evolution?  For something that is now continually taught to our school children as ‘unquestionable fact’, it sure doesn’t seem to have a very solid foundation upon which to stand.  And yet how many changes to the Theory of Creation (or the broader theories of Intelligent Design) have these discoveries required?  But which one is taught as fact and which one will get you mocked and ridiculed if you voice support for?  Hmm… (Intelligent design advocate denied tenure at ISU)

But what I really find of most interest is the response from the scientific community - so passionate are they to defend Evolution - that they are immediately skeptical of this find, insisting that it would be presumptive to make any quick decisions based solely on the discovery of a tooth.  While you may be saying that this is indeed a logical response, take a look at the following info (found at http://www.ronharrod.com/evolution.html about mid-way down the page):

Physical Anthropology

With the exception of a couple of specimens for which there is currently incomplete data, every missing link proposed by anthropology since its inception as a discipline, has eventually been disqualified as a bridge between man and more “primitive” creatures. Some of the “missing links” which have been proposed are as follows.

1. Nebraska Man “Nebraska Man” never existed (as a man). This supposed missing link was fabricated from a single tooth. The tooth turned out to be the tooth of an extinct pig. Incidentally, Nebraska Man was introduced as evidence “proving” evolution in the famous Scopes trial.
2. Piltdown Man Piltdown Man (another none existent “man”) was constructed from an ape jawbone and pieces of a human skull. The bones were filed and stained to make them look older.
3. Colorado Man Colorado Man was constructed from the tooth of an extinct horse!
4. Neanderthal Man It is now known that Neanderthals were completely human. As a group they show signs of some type of osteo-arthritic degeneration (downward, not upward evolution).
5. Cro-Magnon Man Cro-Magnon Man was fully human (cranial capacity of 1650cc). These people produced art and artifacts that testify to a high degree of intelligence.
6. Heidelberg Man Heidelberg Man was constructed from a jawbone found in Germany in 1907. This jawbone is virtually indistinguishable from modern jawbones of natives living in New Caledonia, who are of course, fully human! By the way, this may be a good time to point out the fact that evolution is the bedrock of racism and beliefs regarding racial superiority. You see, if you really believe that creatures having a jawbone like Heidelberg Man are subhuman, you would naturally believe that the natives of New Caledonia are subhuman–and you'd probably treat them that way. This explains why thousands of aboriginals were slaughtered like animals in modern times. It also explains way the Germans were willing to commit genocide against the Jews and other so-called “inferior races” during World War II.
7. Various Australopithecines The australopithecines were simply apes. Human bones have been found which are older than the australopithecines, so it is difficult to imagine how these creatures could be the link between man and the “lower species.” Charles Oxnard (an anthropologist) performed extensive computer analysis on the Australopithecines and concluded that they did not walk upright.
8. Ramapithecus Ramapithecus was supposedly the oldest hominid to be found, dating from around 14 million years. As it turned out, Ramapithecus is now known to have been only an orangutan.
9. Java Man (Pithecanthropus) Java “Man” was discovered in 1880. He was a composite of ape and human bones found in a gravel pit. The fact that both human and ape bones were found in the same pit at the same level was kept secret from the public for over thirty years while this “find” was being used as evidence for human evolution.
10. Peking Man (Sinanthropus pekinensis) Peking Man was discovered in Peking, China. Skulls were found with the backs of the skulls bashed in. Also simple tools were found at the site. It was assumed that these creatures (cranial capacity of about 1000cc) manufactured and used the tools on one another. However, there is clear indication of human activity at this cite and it is known that monkey brains have been a delicacy in some cultures from ancient times (some folks still eat pig brains), so it appears now that the tools were used on the monkeys rather than by them!

Did you notice how many so-called ‘missing links’ have been foisted upon an ignorant public based on the EXACT same tiny amount of evidence as has been uncovered in Israel?  But the difference is that these leaps of evolution-based faith were committed by those who wanted desperately to prove Evolution as absolute truth.  However, consider how many of these discoveries have actually stood up under legitimate scientific review.

On a side socio-political note: it was the Scopes “Monkey Trial” that paved the way for our current imbalance in what our children are taught and what our scientific community continually bombards us with.  If, as noted in the list above, one of the pieces of ‘evidence’ submitted during that famous trial to prove Evolution to be 'fact' was information about the “Nebraska Man” – an entire skeleton that had been built up from JUST ONE TOOTH – then one must ask why that verdict hasn't been subject to greater skepticism if the evidence for it has been discredited.  And even though it has long since been proven to be the tooth of an extinct pig, I would bet you could still find “Nebraska Man” cited in biology textbooks in schools all across our nation today.  It was a lie in 1925 and it’s a lie that continues to be told and retold to this day by those who CLAIM that their goal is to enlighten and foster intellectual growth.

Now this is a great way to welcome the end of the year! It’s like my own special little Christmas present!  I just *love* it when the pseudo intellectual community are forced to argue against the very same type of scientific practices that they have followed for decades…

I think this is about the best time I’ve had with this topic since Ross & Phoebe debated evolution on Friends! 

How's the View From Where You're Standing?

One of the best things about an individual viewpoint is that everyone has one.  Nope, not trying to just sound like a smart-aleck, I'm saying that everyone - and I do mean EVERYONE - has an opinion.  Sure there are those who say they are 'neutral' or 'moderate' or 'open-minded', but ultimately they have a world view that colors everything they see and hear.  And yet we wonder why our nation still seems so divided; even as we try to figure out who is to blame for it aside from ourselves.

Case in point: the sad story of Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal.  In the story Almost no oil recovered from sand berms, the reader is treated to several paragraphs about Gov. Jindal’s colossal failure building sand berms that apparently were a complete waste of money.  But if you read the entire story, you’ll eventually see that the same commission quoted as condemning the sand berms for not really doing what they were established to do as a short-term solution goes on to agree that in the context of long-term coastal restoration they will be a “significant step forward.”  So, does that mean the expense was worthwhile or not?  If you don’t like Jindal, you’ll focus on the short-term failure to criticize him; but if you like Jindal, you’ll focus on the long-term success to laud him.  The difference isn’t in what happened or in Jindal – the difference is the eye of the beholder.

But then there are those ‘reports’ of how the economy is (or isn’t) doing.  Back on November 23, the Associated Press told us that the Fed lowers outlook for economy through 2011.  But the very next day, Reuters reported that Data hints U.S. recovery is becoming self-sustaining.  In the first story we were told: “Federal Reserve officials have become more pessimistic in their economic outlook through next year and have lowered their forecast for growth.”  Then in the second story we were told: “New U.S. claims for jobless benefits hit their lowest level in more than two years last week while consumer spending rose for a fourth straight month in October, suggesting the economy is nearing a self-sustaining recovery.” 

So is the outlook for the economy in 2011 good or bad?  The answer may be found a poll conducted by Bloomberg and reported by The Daily Caller on December 13: Poll: Majority of Americans say they are worse off than they were two years ago.  Among the results of this poll were “In a sweeping poll released by Bloomberg today, 66 percent of respondents said that they felt that “things in the nation…have… gotten off on the wrong track,” compared to just 27 percent who felt the country was heading in the right direction. 51 percent of respondents said they were worse off now than they were two years ago.”  And if that wasn’t bad enough, there was also this concerning news for President Obama: “Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of President Obama’s handling of the budget deficit, which 60 percent voicing disapproval and only 31 percent approving of his policy. Respondents also rebuked Obama for his performance creating jobs, with 55 percent disapproving.”

Is the economy improving and growing stronger?  Are President Obama’s policies helping the economy?  Were the sand berms a waste of money?  Each question can foster debate because perceptions demand multiple right answers – with the holder of each answer convinced that their position is indeed the sole correct one. 

But one thing is certain, President Obama is keenly aware that if he is to be personally successful in his goal to be re-elected in 2012, he needs to do a better job of guiding perceptions of himself.  Which brings us to the great tax compromise of 2011.  When Bush 41 reneged on his “Read my lips; no new taxes” pledge, he paid a very heavy political price for it.  His goal was to extend an olive branch to the Democrats who now had a greater Congressional power base.  In the end, they got him to agree to an increase in taxes and then turned around and ridiculed him for breaking his pledge.  President Obama is apparently attempting the same tactic in reverse.  It's not just taxes: Obama defends his credibility discusses how President Obama not only blindsided his own party with a deal to keep reduced tax rates in place but that he also angered organized labor with a call to freeze Federal worker wages.  What would motivate him to take such actions and risk the ire of his own party?  The answer is obviously found in the results of the 2010 mid-term elections that will strip his party of majority status in the House and nearly cost them the same in the Senate… and poll results such as those reported by Bloomberg above.

People will continue to see what they want to see and frame information in the context that they choose.  The question will be – to what extent will the 2010 election results alter people’s perceptions?  It will also be interesting to see who comes out the political winners in two years… will the Democrats return to power with a triumphantly re-elected Obama leading the charge as they are vindicated and embraced once again by the voters?  Or will the Republicans win over the hearts and minds of the people, establishing themselves as the perceived defenders of fiscal responsibility, and possibly sweeping another fresh face such as Jindal into the White House?

Time will tell.  Which is a good thing, since most people will never tell you the viewpoint they hold to!