Re: NAMAL (Part Two) (Appologies et al.)

["Rob Gay" <rob_redwing@hotmail.com>]

> I am pretty sure your comments weren't meant to be intentionally 
> prejudicial, so please take my little rebuttle as a friendly heads up.<
Oh jeeze, I've done it now... No, not prejudicial or offensive, was my 
intent, and I'm sorry if I have failed at that. I will try to explain myself 
here...

> By predominant culture you mean "Mormon", right?<
In a broader sense, it could be interpreted as this. But, from what I've 
been able to discern with people in this state and people from this state 
living elsewhere, through personal conversations, is that the majority may 
accept most of the theory of evolution, but is generally reluctant to think 
about evolution of man. This may be partially due to many factors, but this 
isn't the list for that discussion (however interesting it may be).

> If this "Predominant culture" were anti-evolution, do you really think BYU 
> would have a earth history department and dinosaur museum?<
This is interesting indeed, but from what I've been told, the official BYU 
policy, despite this, is a 6000 year old earth. However, I only heard this 
from a secondhand source, so if someone knows the truth, please tell me 
(off-list).

> They are now ellegedly looking for a new Vertebrate paleontologist in the 
> next few years.<
Cool! I hadn't heard they were looking!

>     One of the many things I love about Utah is it's cutting edge dinosaur 
> science. Some of the most important dino dig sites in the world are less 
> than 30 miles from my home.<
Indeed, Utah is great for paleo, especially dinosaur-related!

> My adopted state is over 90 percent LDS. If they were all a bunch of 
> backwards yahoos, using fossils as doorstops, You, I , and a large 
> percentage of the earths natural history museums wouldn't be enjoying the 
> fruits of their labors.<
I think the fact tht NAMAL exists at all is proof of this, that people in 
this state aren't "backwards yahoos", nor did I say they were. I was meerly 
commenting on the lack of even the slightest mention of human evolution, and 
how this (IMHO) may not be appropriate for a Museum of Ancient Life, and 
this may partially be the result of some people's views (as I have been able 
to determine through personal conversations, and not blind assumptions). I 
think my initial post was probably very badly worded (I've fairly tired), 
and in summary, I'm basically trying to say I'm sorry if I offended anyone 
(becuse I really, really wasn't even thinking of trying to do that), and 
offering my opinion. Sorry. :(
Peace,
Rob

Student of Geology
Northern Arizona University
Biological Science Tech
Manti-La Sal National Forest
AIM: TarryAGoat
http://www.geocities.com/elvisimposter/dinopics.html
http://www.cafepress.com/RobsDinos
"A _Coelophysis_ with feathers?"

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