----- Original Message -----From: Pamela SilvestriSent: Saturday, June 16, 2007 8:13 PMSubject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Word Game CreationWell I have to say that you are Buzz! Wrong! about what evolution is John. This type of lineal thinking is quite common and is why so many people do not really understand evolution. There is no single 'line' that leads from 'creatures' to 'man' (a.k.a. homo sapien sapiens). In fact, many species of homo co-existed during some periods in time and some of these 'creatures' were fully evolved and well-adapted to their environment.Homo habilis (the 'tool maker') survived virtually unchanged (both their physical make up as well as their tool kit) for over a million years. Their cranial capacity and brain size...and other characteristics are distinct from our own and yet there are some similarities to our own species...and we didn't co-exist with them so we really can't say that we're more 'evolved' than they were during their time. Even if we can prove that we are more 'intelligent' now, at that point in time (about 1.6-2.2 million years B.P. [before present]) they were very well adapted to their environment...one that our species may well not have survived if put back into that time. They didn't change much during their million years of existence for a reason.Our species of homo still exhibit 'primitive' characteristics. There's your 'solid' proof right there...we don't even have to look at fossils for that. Some of us have shoulders that allow us to brachiate, some of us don't. Some of us have little stubby toes, some of us don't. Well I have little stubby toes with a very small 'little toe'...whereas my son's toes are nearly as long as my fingers! I joke with him and refer to them as his "primitive toes". These varying traits are actually beneficial to our species. And I really have to say, that I take offense if your line of thinking would consider my son's physical traits to be compared to those of some 'creature's'The interpretation of the Bible in the Creation Museum is very one-sided! One way to understand of this (and without using lineal thinking) is to study and understand how people (i.e., our species) during different times in history and prehistory and the varying cultures all over the world -explained and tried to understand artifacts (cultural material, that we now know was made by earlier populations of our species...and those artifacts that were made by other species of homo) and also fossils.Do you think everyone in our country today and cultures in other parts of the world today really care to give the Creationist theory or evolution a second thought? Do poor people who are struggling, people who are starving and dying in 3rd world countries and elsewhere are giving a single thought to evolution or creationist theory? NO! All the discussions on this list and...well museums in general for that matter are of our (i.e., predominantly white, middle class and on up) creation and current concern.Ok and I have to say also, that your belief that the existence of 'man' is due to other species/creatures being 'killed off' along the 'chain' by other species/creatures is also inaccurate. That just ain't how it happened. So how would you explain the extinction (or even the proliferation) of other animal species throughout time? Do you not believe that animal/insect species that are on the endangered list are endangered of becoming extinct? Are we the only species among all of the animals on this planet -of all the other species of homo and other species of animals that are not subject to evolution or complete extinction?Evolution is occurring as I write and just because we cannot always see and understand micro-evolutionary changes that are occurring...doesn't mean that they are not happening right now. Environments and habitats are changing...they are in a constant state of flux. And again, we can't always 'see' this but it has been scientifically proven and is happening.Well talk about bias...it's seems as though the many people I know who have studied human evolution are still religious/spiritual people (and yes, I do believe in God)...but people I know who are religious and haven't studied evolution are more apt to have doubts or totally be against it.From what I've read about and photos and interpretive signs I've seen from the 'Creationist Museum'...I'd have to call this interpretation...not a belief system or a theory...but a fairytale (and a potentially dangerous one at that). And obviously it is one that 'exhibits' at it's 'best', speciesism and at it's 'worst', racism.If either the former and especially the latter be true...that we should (we better!) speak out about this, question it, etc. Using and/or creating a museum to 'promote' or even hint at white supremacy is just wrong!PamIn a message dated 6/16/2007 7:43:38 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes:Buzz! Wrong!There is no solid proof that creatures involved up to man. Similiaries of different animals or life formdoes not prove evolution. Again these species who are to a supposed chain up to man died orkilled off by a stronger or different species/creature. It is all theories hanging upon the thread of "belief". And the "theories" has changed as new discoveres come into focus.Again, both (evolution and creation concepts) are totally upon faith and belief.There is nothing wrong with a musuem using exhibits to be created to tell the story of either. Suchprejudice, one-sided thinking is just like the days of cabinets of curosity, when only certain peoplecould view museums. Now evolutionist are telling us what is suppoed to be the act of creation,with only their thinking and everyone else is wrong. That is sheer stupidty, when we in the museumworld create exhibits for the public as you said for enjoyment and entertainment --as long as itfits such shallow and controlled thinking.People who want to see the creationalist museum, let them go to it. No big deal. No offense,but we need not wet our pants becasie twp different theories or belief systems are out there. Letthe public decide what they want to see and believe. That is what a museum is about -- freeflowing exhibits, not controlled by bias exhibitors, directors or one-side museum professionals.JohnPamela Silvestri, Seasonal State Parks Interpretive Guide
Northeast States Civilian Conservation Corps Museum
Shenipsit State Forest Headquarters
166 Chestnut Hill Road
Stafford Springs, Connecticut 06076
Telephone: (860) 684-3430
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