The struggle to report “balanced” news when the facts are unbalanced
Andrew Sullivan talks things over with reporter Marc Ambinder.
Andrew Sullivan talks things over with reporter Marc Ambinder.
This title is an incisive quote from our regular responder, Karl K. My personal and immediate response to this statement is, “Duh”. Naturalism, or the acceptance of the results and conclusions from the application of the Scientific Method, has created huge advances in the survival and comfort of all humanity. In the couple of centuries since the Enlightenment, more progress has been made toward that goal than in the previous 50 centuries under theistic ruling philosophies. There is great utility for society as a whole in following naturalistic views.
However, then Karl proceeds with the following non-sequitur:
Can I therefore assume that you would concede the point that if somebody has to die to solve some of the world’s problems it should be people like ERIK who preach religious dogma in a manner that offends you. In fact this would apply to anyone who says interpretive science needs to be knocked out of its prominent position in our secular society be they Christian, Muslim, Hindu, […]
Actually, evolutionary theories (one subset of naturalistic conclusions) prove that variety (a wide bell curve in every characteristic) is necessary to the long term survival of societies, as well as species. Only people with narrow world views advocate eliminating non-aggressive adversaries. Genocide is practiced by theists, not naturalists. Usually by theists of the newly-formed personality-cult sort as with Hitler, Stalin, and Pol Pot. These cult leaders claim to be scientific to the world, yet the first thing they do is purge actual scientists and …
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune Reprinted with full permission by Cagle Cartoons.
Jon Stewart's team explores Wasilla:
Al Jazeera (yes, Al Jazeera) has taken the time to interview some of the Ohio voters who are driven by bigotry and ignorance. No doubt there are many others. Now it's time for the mainstream corporate media to do the same, to shame these people into silence. Sunshine is a…