Faith Trumps Science. WTF?

Aside from the obvious irritation at people like Tebow who feel they have to shove their religiosity into the public domain 24/7, I have serious issues over the comments made by Tebow’s mother. She would have us believe that her doctor was an uncaring quack that nearly ended the life of her unborn son when he or she advised her to terminate the pregnancy for medical reasons. The cavalier attitude ascribed to her physician is a creation of her biased mind and not the behavior of a medical professional counseling a patient facing a serious ethical choice. The more troublesome issue presented in this carefully scripted passion play is the not so veiled suggestion that faith trumps science. When informed of the seriousness of her condition, she decided, on the strength of faith alone, to continue her pregnancy. With the gift of 20/20 hindsight, Mrs. Tebow presents her singular experience as a model for all women facing a similar diagnosis. Her commentary callously suggests that modern science and medicine are no more capable of ameliorating human suffering than are the incantations of a tribal witchdoctor chanted over the spilled entrails of a butchered goat.

Has a professional diagnosis of Trisomy 21, Tay-Sachs, Anencephaly, or any of the other tragic birth abnormalities intruded on your plans for motherhood? Mrs. Tebow would have women believe that faith alone will restructure that mortally scrambled life developing with them. What meaningless sympathies would Mrs.Tebow extend to those mothers who chose faith over science only to give birth to a child condemned to a short and painful existence? With tragic irony, the faith that only added to human suffering is now used to justify that suffering as God’s will. The cruelty behind that blind faith knows no limits.

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid!

Mr. Johnson's Big Adventure

This short animation (SLYT) would make a great public service announcement. (NSFW)

Between Scylla and Charybdis

The loss of Ted Kennedy's senate seat to a republican was a wake-up call to progressive Americans that our long-awaited moment to address critical issues like health care, energy reform, education, infrastructure, banking reform, and the continuing demise of the middle-class, has been squandered by the inaction of the "No Nothing!" Republican and the "Know Nothing?" Democratic parties.

President Obama needs to take decisive action if his campaign promises, and the hopes of millions of caring Americans, are to become more than artfully-crafted rhetoric in the service of nothing but selfish ambition.

Deux ex Machina?