Creationists love to trumpet the claim that statistics prove evolution to be impossible. If, for example, we have ten cards numbered one through ten and lay them face down on the table in a row, the probability that they will be in perfect sequence one through ten is extremely low. But that is not how natural selection works!

As a practical experiment, I placed 10 numbered cards face down on my desk, mixing them around before the start and before each time I drew a card. If the card was not the correct sequentially numbered card. I put it back in the pile. That is how natural selection and evolution works!

I laid down the correct one through ten sequence in only 57 tries!

Try it yourself, preferably in front of a statistics spouting creationist. (not that you will convince him/her, but it might be fun anyway!)

For more information on creationist nonsense, visit my web site at http://www.fsteiger.com/creation.html

A New Pledge of Allegiance

Congress can change, and has changed, the Pledge of Allegiance. The present Pledge is not in accordance with our Constitution. The Constitution is the basic framework of our system of government and, as stated in the Constitution itself, the "supreme law of the land." The Constitution provides for a democratic system of government by the people. The Pledge refers to our government as a "republic," which is not necessarily a democracy. Inserting the words "under God" is contrary to the letter and spirit of the Constitution. God is not mentioned in the Constitution. The Constitution makes it perfectly clear: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." It also provides that the laws are to be enacted by the legislative branch (Congress), not by the executive branch (the President). As provided in the Constitution, the president-elect must take either an oath or can solemnly affirm to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. No President has the right to take it upon himself the role of legislating support for establishments of religion. The extensive written records of the framers of our Constitution and the Constitution itself makes it perfectly clear: there shall be an unequivocal separation between church and state. That wall is under constant attack by radio televangelists. As first step to defend our Constitution against this un-American crusade, I propose the following change in the Pledge:

I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America and to the democracy for which it stands, a nation with freedom and justice for all.