Tourism in Grand Rapids, America's Love of Science, and PETA

If you ever come to Grand Rapids, there is something you need to see. Sure, you won't find it on the brochures, as its not a tourists trap (I'm looking at you Gerald Ford Museum), but it is the most exceptional site in this venerable city. Take 131 to the Leonard St. exit, and then turn to travel under the Leonard St. bridge. Look at the North-face wall of the bridge and you will see it. Wall graffiti in its purist form, starkly stating its candid evaluation of society with profound profundity. Its message is simple: "America = Science Dictatorship." I'll give you a moment to let that percolate.



(one more moment)



How discerning. How penetrating. How astute. How... how... how terribly mistaken. America is ruled by scientists like Paris Hilton is ruled by reason and common sense, which is to say, not at all. If anything, our society seems more inclined to recoil from science. I'm not going to go on a rant here, but America's reaction to science is like my reaction to any movie in which babies act like adults, which is to say, not positive. I don't really want to make a detailed argument at the moment, but I would like to say the phrase, "which is to say" once more. So, the majority of Americans rejecting evolution makes as much sense as conjugating a sentence spoken by Sarah Palin, which is to say, very little. (Yes, a post-election-season Sarah Palin joke! I'm keeping it alive.) Pictured: a wrecking ball - featured at the Creation "Museum" - smashing a church in the name of millions of years, i.e., evil.

On a more serious note, I was glad to read that Obama appointed Steven Chu - Nobel prize winning physicist - as Secretary of Energy. Perhaps Obama will heed the advice of the scientific community a bit better than the current administration.

In other news, PETA now sells coffins branded with a message, for those who would like to preach from beyond the grave. Their slogan is: "Go Out in Style With a PETA Coffin!" My personal favorite is the coffin this one.