The B-P Post got owned.....or was it me?

The above the fold headline on this week's print edition of the Brighton-Pittsford Post, written by Brian Roth, titled The Great Debate: Evolution vs. Creationism peaked my interest enough to attend the "debate" at the Pittsford Community Church this evening. Well, it was in fact Part One of a three part lectures series by evolutionist turned creationist Chris Miller.

With lots of creationism literature, the kind that gets stuffed in your storm door with the driveway sealing quotes, splattered about the lobby, I began to feel as though I had been duped. You see the article referenced the word debate in three prominent places: the headline, jump and jump header. I love a good debate, but this, my friends, was a sermon at best. The format of 45 minutes of lecture followed by a 35 minute question period was thankfully adhered to. Did I mention the ice cream and coffee in the lobby?

Anyway, the background stage is set, from my left: the American flag, a large video projection of the Powerpoint presentation, a large well-crafted cross, another video projection and a Christian flag appropriately to the Right. In the foreground next to the podium: a laptop, The Origin of Species and The Holy Bible. The speaker entered after a brief introduction with perfect TV church hair. Honestly, it was perfect.

One of the main points made in Mr. Miller's presentation opening was that our great great great etc. grandparents were bacteria. The snickering chuckles confirmed my presence as an outsider. This is not a debate. How the fuck did I get here? The church, I mean, not here in the big picture.

Taking notes and reading the storm door stuffers I came across the following, "This lecture series is open to all PCC Members and guests you would like to invite." I am neither a member nor an invited guest, unless of course Mr. Roth's article was in fact an invitation in the guise of news. This is not news. An ad at best, both for the lecture series and a catchy little headline to reap 25 cents from a passerby. Perhaps a sales rep could have more effectively generated the revenue with a full page ad.

Back to the debate. The first question from the audience came from nine or ten year old redhead (note the dual recessive genes bound for extinction). The question regarded the potential "counter attack" from evolutionists with respect to comments made in favor of creationism. Funny coming from a young advocate of Artificial Selection.

So I crafted a strongly worded letter to the writer and editors of The Brighton-Pittsford Post and will post the reply should I get one.

Did I get owned? Maybe. Was it worth it? Sure. What else did I have to do tonight, read about Republicans packing heat? Damn dirty hippies.

Did I mention the Ark?