ORIGINAL COMPOSE DATE: 30 September 2006
For years I have been complaining about the “Ivory Tower” of science. Scientists have long ignored politics and let science in the public realm fall to the wayside.
Only a handful of scientists have taken on creationists. While the majority of scientists find creationism laughable, at best, they also stay away from the confrontation. The fear being that confronting creationism will somehow give it merit; that debating creationism will give the public the perception that creationism is a threat to valid science.
Nonsense! When scientists debated the elliptical earth with flat earth believers did it prop flat-earth belief up by giving off the perception that flat-earth belief was a threat to valid science? What about when scientists debated the heliocentric solar system with believers in geocentric solar system?
We are talking about the future of American children and creationism should be challenged every step of the way.
Of course, this mindset goes beyond creationism and touches upon every instance where science is thwarted publicly because of religious beliefs or politics bent toward religious voters.
Stem cell research, emergency contraceptives, use of condoms in AIDS-stricken Africa, global warming, energy conservation, wildlife conservation, and many other issues have taken a backseat to religious ideology and politicians pandering to those ideologies (or believing in them personally).
The New York Times reported today that a new organization of scientists and engineers is now ready to take on this battle. Clearly, the group is not purporting to be anti-religious or to be taking on religious at all. What they are espousing is the need for politicians to stop ignoring scientific facts.
It is about time.
Scientists and Engineers for America (SEA) officially launched on September 27th. Science-oriented individuals everywhere need to join this organization and help it to become a political voice.
SEA has a national agenda that includes national security, energy, the environment, health, education, and economic growth. This is a large task, but with enough membership and enough of a voice, it is a task they can take.
Kudos to all the scientists that formed the SEA and every citizen and scientist alike that has joined and will join the SEA in their fight to ensure politicians and policies do not blatantly ignore scientific facts.
We are talking about the future of America and her children; policies based on beliefs that ignore the facts should be challenged all the way!
