After reading the articles in the opinion section of March 1st’s paper by Dr. Robert Martin, Mr. Ben Shelby and Dr. William Zingrone, I felt the need to read Dr. Faris Sahawneh and Mark Looy’s responses to Dr. Zingrone’s original article. After reading the articles in the argument, I was incredibly disturbed by the level of disrespect shown.
As a child, I was taught to think for myself and decide what I believe to be true. Presented with evidence for both evolution and creationism, I support the theory of evolution, and have never particularly had the taste for religion in general. However, I was profoundly disappointed in BOTH sides of the argument. I have seen many secular people condemn those that do practice a religion for not being respectful of those that are not religious.
I feel as if a reverse of this applies. After reading the replies to Sahawneh and Looy, I felt they were condemning them for their religious beliefs, and that they were just as intolerant and disdainful toward their beliefs as they would consider Sahawneh and Looy to be toward theirs.
As someone who accepts the theory of evolution and considers herself a student scientist, I was embarrassed by the replies of the people representing our biology department. I sincerely hope that those within and outside the University are aware that not everyone in the science departments are so pedantic and disrespectful of others’ points of view. Martin says: “If Creationists had their way, we would be thrown back into the Middle Ages …”
I highly doubt that and would like to say that if anything is going to hinder progress, it will be due to intolerant people who degrade others. Let’s be respectful, and agree to disagree.
Letter from Kathleen Mount, sophomore from Crestwood, Ky.