Volume XX, Number 30

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

by Rod Miner, Darby

Anti-evolutionists claim that "Evolution is a belief system based upon individual preference and nothing else." (Mangold, Bitterroot Star, 2-16-05). Is this claim accurate?

An authentic scientific Theory is capable of prediction. The Theory of Evolution predicts what type of plant and animal fossils may be found, and those that won't, in various geologic strata. It accurately predicts a progression of fossil body types to be found in strata ascending from old to recent. It successfully predicts a pattern of species distribution and relationships in living plants and animals. It has predicted that steel axes and spark plugs will never be found in undisturbed Pre-Cambrian strata. Using the Theory of Evolution, the Theory of Plate Tectonics and Atomic Theory (which dovetail together and reinforce each other nicely, as good and useful Theories do), paleontologists predict the geologic location of fossils and confirm their age. This is done successfully every day in the world of real science. This is science worthy of our classrooms.

In the dark ages before humanity learned the value of separating church and state power, the church held the authority to censor or execute scientists whose findings were at odds with church dogma. Hindu, Christian, Muslim and a thousand minor religions still hold within each of them a minority of fundamentalists who cannot reconcile their beliefs with the findings of science. Hindu anti-science fundamentalists claim that humans have been on earth for billions of years and Christian ones claim less than ten thousand years; both protest the Theory of Evolution, and probably will for a long time to come. Luckily for Americans, these fundamentalists do not hold power over our scientists.

The methodology of science is perhaps the finest and most productive thing that humans have ever invented. Let us teach its mathematical logic, rigorous method and authentic findings to our children.

Bruton not getting fair shake

Dear Editor,

I have never read such reckless journalism as that in the Ravalli Republic on February 9. The paper has tried, convicted and hung John Bruton in the public arena. It was not necessary to publish large front page photos of a local business owner being taken away in front of his store in handcuffs.

All you look for is sensationalism and easy money selling more papers. People look at the pictures and not the words. Shame on you for letting your reporter be the judge. And you, the editor, are the jury, since you are supposed to approve all copy.

The Ravalli Republic is getting right up there with the rag sheets you find at the check out stand in the local grocery store.

How can John Bruton get a fair trial in Ravalli County when the Ravalli Republic has already convicted him with a front page article dated February 9, 2005?

Miriam Deming
Hamilton

Crime busters

Dear Editor,

Oh where, oh where, is the radio program Gang Busters when you need it? In the days of my youthful past I listened to it every week and wrote down the license numbers of the vile criminals' escape vehicles as espoused by Warden Laws. One whole summer I and several friends of tender age sat at the corner of a busy intersection near our homes on the west side of Chicago and looked for the villain's license number so we could report its whereabouts to the FBI. We looked at hundreds of thousands of cars and never found one evil license plate to report.

In the last few days there have been a couple of sensational exposes in our local paper of terrible crime in our little innocent valley. How did these crimes get exposed? An alert reporter listening to a police scanner announcing that an arrest was going to be made shortly just down the street from the paper? The police announcing on their scanner they are going to make an arrest citing the time and place? Even the Bitterroot Valley's thin blue line knows better than to announce they are going to make an arrest. They might alert the violent criminal and put a policeman's life in danger.

Well, how did the pictures get in the paper if the paper didn't learn of the potential event over the scanner? Let us make a wild guess. Someone told them. Was it the criminal who might have felt he needed the publicity? I'll bet you hardly think so. Who might it have been? Let's take another wild guess. Could it have been the prosecutors whose case might not be as strong as they would like? If you can convict the alleged criminal in the paper with a strong story you can poison the jury pool and almost guaranty a conviction. The weaker the case the more prurient publicity is needed to assure conviction.

I need to make a guess at this juncture. From reading the court reports in the papers every Friday I am going to make a guess that we have about ten DUI arrests every week. That's about 520 a year. I'm old and my memory isn't quite as good as it used to be so I may be mistaken but I can't recall any courtroom pictures of any arrested DUIs.

I attach no blame to the paper for getting the juicy stories and putting them in print. There should be a little blame for the snitch who set it up in an effort to bolster the facts and secure a conviction.

John W. Robinson
Corvallis

Response to Bob Lake

Dear Editor,

I am responding to Rep. Bob Lake's February 15 letter. I spent the week of February 7-12 at our state capitol attending floor sessions and committee meetings every day and base this letter on my observations of our state government in action.

Rep. Lake's letter chastised citizens to be informed on bill content/progress before contacting legislators, then neglected to mention how to obtain this information. I applaud citizens who express their opinion on legislation. This is a very important part of the process. Elected officials are supposed to be representing us. Information on legislation is available on the internet at www.leg.state.mt.us. Click on Bills, then 2005 Session on the pull down menu. The website accesses each bill's content, progress, and floor votes (in the progress section, click on the blue vote tally for lists of who voted for or against). You can search by bill number, draft number, subject, or sponsor. The site also explains how a bill becomes law (www.leg.state.mt.us/print/research/faqs/howbill.asp).

I disagree with Rep. Lake's accusation that Democratic Party partisanship is the reason for friction in the legislature. From what I observed, some (not all) GOP legislators are working hard to "gum up the works." In committee meeting and on the floor some Republican legislators consistently displayed belligerent behavior with snide, sarcastic, and argumentative statements toward any bill brought by a Democrat. Behaving like a bully does not win respect. While Democrats questioned and debated bills brought by Republicans, the tone was decidedly more respectful. Pondering this observation, I engaged in a conversation with a Republican legislator and was informed there are two factions in the Republican Party - one wants to work with the Democrats to move Montana forward and the other wants to see the Democrats fail by any means necessary. This second faction attempted to block the bills for wage increases to State Employees and the definition of quality education, fought raising the minimum wage, is holding up the bill for low income heating assistance, has repeatedly challenged Governor Schweitzer, and is attempting to delay resolution of school funding. The ultimate losers in this political posturing and power play are the people of Montana.

After 10 years in the majority in House, Senate and Governor's office, some Republican legislators resent being in the minority and losing the easy way to push their agenda through. I talked with both Democrats and Republicans who shook their heads over the conflicts this group is creating and perpetuating.

The 100-member House is divided 50/50 and I watched many floor votes. A number of bills from both sides passed with votes in the 90's. The bills with political agendas had closer votes, but never a tie. Rep. Lake, complaining because your party's political agenda is no longer easily pushed through is classic partisanship.

Deb Essen
Victor

Keep up good sportsmanship

To the Stevensville and Corvallis Fans,

I was a visitor at the Stevensville/Corvallis boy's basketball game in Stevensville last week and although I was not part of the "winning" side, I was encouraged by the healthy sportsmanship and spirit shown by the students on both sides. The Stevensville gym was packed with fans of all ages in support of their respective teams as they both wrapped up exciting seasons!

I was especially impressed by the students and their willingness to show strong school spirit and pride without getting inappropriate or ugly toward their valley rivals. The Stevensville principal and several staff members were standing near their students throughout the entire game for "crowd control" and to make sure things were kept orderly and the fun and humor didn't get of control. Corvallis staff and parents did the same. We all realize emotions run high during a game but true character comes out when players and fans rise above the game to be kind and respectful to each other. We, the fans, were treated to a fun, talented display of basketball and sportsmanship last week from an enthusiastic crowd to "gentlemen" on the court!

Congratulations to Stevensville on an exciting win but especially for being friendly hosts to your valley neighbors.

Many of us remember years when only a handful of students showed up for the games and passively sat there as their teams played. We also remember the days of ugly rivalries where police force was needed outside the school. As we enter tournaments this week, I hope we can look at this game as an example of the good, clean fun and support students can give to the players without stooping to bad language, slams against the other teams and insults to individual players. Win or lose, it's all still just a game!

Mary Eason
Former Corvallis resident