Charles Robert Darwin, was a learned man. At least
one would conclude this after reading his rather
lengthy expose of the origin of species by natural
selection or the preservation of selected races in the
struggle for life.
It's good that some of us have the where-with-all to
have our opinions considered and set to print. But
like most of us Mr. Darwin, didn't have many opinions
for awhile. His grandpappy was a physician who held
the opinion that we evolved from something lesser. He
called it his Theory Of Evolution, I believe.
From the age of 16 he studied medicine at Edinburgh
for two years. A profession for which he found
himself unfitted. Then he turned toward the ministry.
He enrolled at Cambridge University and studied there
for three years and became disinclined for that noble
calling. Then after laying around home for a year or
so he was appointed Naturalist on the exploration
voyage of the HMS Beagle. Charlie had to stay with
this choice for the better part of five years. The
boat sailed off in the Pacific Ocean visiting several
islands known to have cannibals and he most likely was
hesitant to go ashore many times. And it's only
natural that a young man confined as he was for long
durations, be given to some deep thinking. So he
began to write considerably.
Now, it's my belief that the difference in an opinion
and a theory is merely one is written and set to print
and possibly published, while the other goes forth
dependant on sound and recall of those present at the
time it is discharged. I've always thought it a pity and a
mockery that less theories are forthcoming and more
opinions were known. In my modest exposure to life's
escapades I have heard some very impressive opinions
issued in poolrooms, sale barns, picnics, parties and
patios.
I reckon my point with all this is, I seriously
question Mr. Dawin's theory. He has, after an
obviously unhappy childhood, where he was confined in
English schools for many years, being exposed to very
little of the real events in life such as playing with
ants, lizards, horned toads, and being allowed to
simply go fishing or walking through the forest very
little, and being shanghaied aboard a ship for years
doing the job of Naturalist, for which he had
absolutely no prior knowledge or experience, emerged
with the disconnected opinion that we have somehow
evolved.
I think he was pressured into it! I never met his
Poppa, but I bet he wanted Charles out of the house
and away from those expensive colleges? And since
Charlie was impressed by his Grandpop's theories of
evolution as well as his financial capability which
permitted him to attend school, he wrote down his
thoughts and his Grandpop had them printed.
Very well Mr. Darwin. A query: Why aren't we still
evolving? Was there an end to this evolving
condition? You fail to mention this in your published
opinion. We evolved by natural selection, you say.
Nature, only tears away, smooths down and destroys
that which exists. I have seen no creations by nature
that aren't born of chaos. The Grand Canyon, comes to
mind as a prime example. And if we sprang from the
chimpanzee why is there still chimps? Did we somehow
accelerate away from him by some natural selection
others weren't granted?
Lucky us. Lowly little man
has taken the skinny wheat seed and with grafting and
careful transplanting created a hybrid wheat that
feeds thousands more people per field of wheat. But
that's not natural selection that is planned
selection. We find evidence of homo sapiens more than
35,000 years ago. But we're not sure whence he came.
I would suggest that perhaps he is born of angels.
Certainly that opinion holds as much accuracy as
yours? Or how about the creationists? Oh - but that
is a theory like yours isn't it. It's published
thereby a theory.
It's just my humble opinion Mr. Darwin, but I believe
that old Adam or drunken old Noah, and his band, with
their absurd tales of our lineage, are as acceptable
as is your theory.
I think you should have had the opportunity to shoot
marbles and go swimmin' or fishin' down along the
river with a can of worms and a cane pole Charlie.
Watching the mud seep up between your toes can be
captivating and maybe you could've developed a
completely different outlook on life? A boy needs
that sort of thing to grow up just a certain way.
I know I did.