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lastlib

(22,981 posts)
12. DAMN! Isn't it AMAZING what we can do with freakin' SCIENCE??!?
Tue Sep 15, 2020, 11:48 AM
Sep 2020

Imagine for a moment that a member of the scientific establishment marched into the state capital and declared that Shakespeare’s pre-eminence as a writer was “just a theory.” Would politicians then require comic books to be presented alongside Shakespeare? Then why should science be trivialized in this same way? The answer, unfortunately, is ignorance--ignorance mixed with blind fear, a fear that their “truth” will be supplanted or discredited by a greater “truth.”

The sad part of this is that it is so absurd. The Dark Ages ended centuries ago. What we’re debating is high-school-level biology, not Kantian philosophy. We live in an extraordinary age. High-school students can count atoms, deduce stellar spectra, measure awesome geologic ages, and manipulate with their own hands the very future of a species. Over the centuries, perhaps millions of men and women have devoted their lives to peering into the wonders of the universe, to understand, to teach, to advance our knowledge of those wonders. And after all the work, all the striving, along come these self-proclaimed religious/political gnostics who arrogantly deny that it is of any value.

Dressed in synthetic cloths, nurtured by synthetic medicines, shielded from a hostile world by the sciences that feed them, warm them, provide them with bibles, cars and computers, they sweep their preachments before them and presume to save the masses from curiosity and wonder. Their message is clear: Ignorance is salvation; scholarship is immoral; curiosity and inquiry are blasphemy.

And the ultimate cost is death--promulgated, ironically, by a party that prides itself on being "pro-life."

Hey, neat! soothsayer Sep 2020 #1
That sounds exciting. cyndensco Sep 2020 #2
Great news, some new hope K&R Guilded Lilly Sep 2020 #3
Cool. First Polio, Now maybe COVID. #PittsburghStrong Tommymac Sep 2020 #4
Like 👆👆👆. nt iluvtennis Sep 2020 #6
Amen, my fellow yinzer! Bluetail Sep 2020 #11
They're also in process of testing a vaccine DeminPennswoods Sep 2020 #21
My Alma Mater... Freedomofspeech Sep 2020 #23
But trump and republicans duforsure Sep 2020 #5
Trump needs COVID to keep Democrats away from the polls DSandra Sep 2020 #8
They have to stop reporting this stuff matt819 Sep 2020 #7
I think every breakthrough should be reported. Lonestarblue Sep 2020 #13
What does it do to our cells? Friendly bugs? Warpy Sep 2020 #9
UPMC reports it does not bind to human cells. Kid Berwyn Sep 2020 #17
It's still a long slog from in vitro to in vivo. Warpy Sep 2020 #18
Great news but ... BlueWavePsych Sep 2020 #10
Exactly! BlueIdaho Sep 2020 #14
A realistic Timeframe would be both informative and provide some context to the inevitable NoMoreRepugs Sep 2020 #16
But my neighbor has a hamster. It is exciting for them. olddad65 Sep 2020 #25
DAMN! Isn't it AMAZING what we can do with freakin' SCIENCE??!? lastlib Sep 2020 #12
Hopeful. calimary Sep 2020 #15
Biomolecule--does that mean it's a naturally occuring substance? MissMillie Sep 2020 #19
great another unaffordable anitviral noneof_theabove Sep 2020 #20
FTR, Pitt also has developed a vaccine candidate DeminPennswoods Sep 2020 #22
Finally - a piece of good news. Vinca Sep 2020 #24
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