Has Fear Simply Become the New God?

"Yea, and I will bring down'eth My mighty hand of fire and brimstone to smite those who would dareth use the brain unto which I have bestowed upon them'eth...Yea."

I just don't know what to say. Many of you may not be aware of this, but the American Museum of Natural History in New York recently debuted a fantastic exhibit of the life and scientific discoveries of Charles Darwin. The opening began with a fanfare of celebrities and patrons of the museum. Jon Stewart of the Daily Show was in attendance and had this to say as he marveled at the collection of specimens demonstrating Darwin's discoveries...

"It just makes you wonder," deadpanned Stewart. "Why is Jesus trying to trick us?"

"I do wish George Bush would start paying attention to issues that are important for the country," Stewart went on. "Gay marriage, for instance. I don't understand why the religious right fears homosexuality. They say it's an abomination. The Bible says that shellfish are also an abomination. … They who oppose sodomy must also oppose scallops."

For the rationally-based in the audience this might sound like an encouraging step, huh? Well, there's a kicker...the $3 million budget for the exhibit had to totally be funded through private donations as not a single corporation in America had the guts to sponsor it. Not one. Because of fear of the room-temperature-IQ Intelligent Designers (AKA ' Creationists', AKA 'Young Earthers').

Why do so few in this country remember this mentality's first two installments of this 'Leave Us Behind' movie series? You know, 'Part Alpha - The Earth is Flat' and 'Part Deux - The Universe Revolves Around the Earth'. Why are we now letting a freak show of uber-literalist individuals run amok around our great nation proclaiming that the Earth is only 6,000 years old with hardly any resistance? Is it just because it's easier to give in to stupidity? When the Hell did it become PC to cave in to coercion from religious fanatics? Again, I just don't know what to say...other than I'm starting to really lose tolerance with our unbridled religious-tolerance. We either have to decide to move forward as an intelligent species or just stop and give up trying...it truly is that simple... Jage