Letters to the Editor
| Written by Braeden Hyde |
| Wednesday, 21 January 2009 18:26 |
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I found irony in Wiley Combs’ article “Science: system of facts, not beliefs.” He claims science is about facts, not beliefs, but uses only his own beliefs (not facts) to support his conclusion. He says, “Religion is a question of interpretation, one which often leaves no room for alternatives.” Is that not exactly what his science is?
True science deals with theories, not absolutes. True science is for proving truth, not arguing about who is right. “Science” is the method that includes conducting research, forming hypotheses (synonymous with beliefs), experimenting, then analyzing and reporting the findings. Science produces theories based on observable facts, but at no time has true science ever claimed to be the conclusive, all-encompassing, irrefutable “explanation of the workings of the universe.”
Religion is another method of gaining knowledge. Granted, it’s generally more concerned with personal eternal truths, rather than the physical truths of this world. But true religion, like true science, encompasses all truth. The two methods should not only be compatible, but complimentary. Religion includes conducting research (via studying scripture and/or meditation), forming beliefs, testing by application in your life, building faith in proven principles and reporting the findings through giving testimony.
The main difference is that science’s basic premise is that mankind is capable of discovering all truth; religion maintains that some understanding is beyond our capacity to discover without help.
Wiley brings up creation. He claims science is proven, but religion is “mumbo-jumbo.” Let’s compare, shall we?
Big Bang: Random chemicals spontaneously combined by some unexplained, unduplicated method. Poof!! Life is produced and mutates into more complicated life. (The calculated odds of that are roughly the same as putting a 1,000 piece jigsaw in a box, shaking it, and having all the pieces randomly fall into place when you dump them out.)
Intelligent Design: A superior being (God or Alien?) purposefully created this earth and all life on it by means that are currently above our understanding.
Are Wiley’s “scientific” theories (Yes, THEORIES, not facts) really so much superior to the theory of intelligent design? What is the problem with teaching both theories? When it comes down to it, it’s ALL about beliefs. Belief in the scientific method, or believe in the religious method makes little difference. Hopefully all these beliefs are based on facts, but I will agree with Wiley that most of us have become too lazy to actually do our research. And at least one of us was too lazy, or distracted, to provide facts for his op-ed.
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| Written by Anthony Gibbs |
| Wednesday, 14 January 2009 18:21 |
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An open letter calling for some sanity: This letter may seem trite, but I cannot resist a comment on Glenn Beck’s use of Jack Bauer (yes, the fictional TV character) as an example of a good American and values of which we should be proud. Apparently, Jack Bauer of Fox’s “24,” admitted to Congress (that is “TV” Congress, not “reality-based” Congress) that he tortured terrorists and was proud of doing so. Bauer went on to say that the public would justify his actions.
Where to begin? First of all Glenn Beck should shut his stupid face for citing a fictional character as support for torture. This is AMERICA, and if you think torture is OK, you should go back to Russia, or Egypt, or Afghanistan, or the Sudan or any of the other countries to which we outsource our felonious activities. Second, as Fox & Friends sycophants sucked up to Glenn Beck’s sage words, even the fictional character Jack Bauer got it wrong - as an employee of the executive branch of the government, Bauer has no; zero; zilch accountability to the public, that’s what LAWS are for- even in the TV world government employees who are not elected do not answer to the public.
A host of the show also stated that no one wants Guantanamo closed except the U.N.; they must have forgotten that Sen. John McCain, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and former secretaries of state Henry Kissinger, James Baker, Warren Christopher, Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell have all called for closure of the facility; or they lied.
Fox & Friends is so routinely idiotic that I suppose their endorsement of the stance of a fictional TV character should come as no surprise. If you happen to think they got it right, I pity your ignorant foolishness, and may God have mercy on your soul.
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 28 January 2009 21:15 ) |
| Written by Dean Houchen |
| Friday, 05 December 2008 10:18 |
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In the December 3, 2008 issue of the Branding Iron Wiley Combs column “Big business … just plain lazy?” happened to catch my attention. I believe Mr. Combs’ idea of a perfect world, where no one would have to work, is contradictory to the examples he uses to support his argument.
He claims to know a person that has claimed bankruptcy twice, but has received no assistance from the federal government like the auto industry in Detroit is currently seeking. If his friend has declared bankruptcy twice, the blame should be put directly on his shoulders. Maybe he has taken Mr. Combs’ approach to being lazy and not having to work for a living too much to heart. I mean, America was founded and made successful by the workingman and woman. The people that work 40 hours a week making so- called “useless products” as Mr. Combs refers to may not enjoy their jobs. But they do their job because they know they have to provide for themselves and their families.
On the same note, I am a college kid going to school full-time. What would I know about work? Right. Well I am currently enrolled in 14 credit hours at the university, while working a custodial job for the university putting in around 30 extra hours of work a week. This job may be one of the ones Mr. Combs believes “produces essentially nothing.” But if more people like Mr. Combs appreciated the hard work and sweat that go into the products that they use every day, he, as well as others, might have a little more respect for the custodian that cleans the restrooms, the assembly worker that builds the car or the farmer that harvests the grain that goes into their food every day.
Dean Houchen
Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management
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| Written by Anna Guyton |
| Wednesday, 19 November 2008 09:33 |
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Dear Editor,
To recognize National Hunger and Homelessness week, a committed group of students is occupying Simpson’s Plaza this week to collect canned food and other non-perishable food for the local food bank.
We are the founding members of The Good Mule Project – a student initiative you’ll be hearing a lot more about over the next few months. If students are interested in getting involved on campus with issues surrounding social justice and environmental sustainability, they should ask one of us at the table for an application for an upcoming student activist training conference sponsored by TGM.
Many students might be surprised to know that in 2006, 10.6 percent of Wyoming households were food insecure, and 10.3 percent of the population was in poverty. Out of a population of 489,486, that means that at least 17,295 people in this state were food insecure and 50,417 were in poverty. Imagine being in their shoes during long, cold Wyoming winters. Fortunately, there are many easy and inexpensive ways that you can help.
Even if every student only brought two cans to the table this week, we could make sure that every hungry and homeless person in Wyoming has something to eat for their Thanksgiving dinner. Is there anything in the cupboard that you don’t often eat? Are there any care-package goodies you don’t really like?
Even if you don’t have anything at home, you can find many canned foods and non-perishable foods like tuna, canned vegetables, tomato sauces, “PastaRoni,” and “Rice-a-Roni” for less than a dollar. Pick up a couple extra things while you’re at the store this week to help give someone a nice holiday dinner. I don’t know of any student that would want to perpetuate the hunger and homelessness we have in our state and in our country, so please do something about it, and spread the word about our canned food drive this week. Thank you on behalf of every life you’ll be making better.
Sincerely,
Anna Guyton
The Good Mule Project
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| Written by Rollin Winter |
| Friday, 14 November 2008 09:27 |
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I was very dissappointed when I read Charlie Wheeler's article in the opinion column of the Nov. 13 issue of the Branding Iron. In his article he did have some good points, among them the fact that no matter how much we argue about the recent elections and what the future will bring, we have no idea of what is going to happen. It's the same old debate that happens every four years fueled by other factors this year due to the race of President-Elect Barack Obama. However, my opinion of Mr. Wheeler and his attitude of superiority quickly dropped when he began to profile a group of people while berating them for their attitude towards others. Granted, I didn't grow up in the all-tolerating environment of Jackson Hole, but it seems to me that hypocrisy is an attribute that usually accompanies racism, and it is generally accepted that profiling is the same as racism. We are all entitled to our own opinions, and we don't have to like everybody or get along with everybody, but it seems to me that by profiling cowboys and agriculture kids, Mr. Wheeler has drug himself down to the level of those he professes to be better than.
Rollin Winter
Senior, Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management
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