Ask people what they think, not what they believe

Ask people what they think, not what they believe
EDITOR:
On Oct 10 The Vindicator ran an op-ed piece by Scott Keeter of the Washington Post that contended that public opinion polls show that the public is evenly divided on the question of evolution vs. creationism. In my opinion, it would be necessary to study the wording of the questions asked in the polls before we could conclude what respondants' views are.
In particular, I would want to know if people were asked if they "thought" or "believed" humans had evolved, etc. It may well be that many sensible people who are not totally ignorant would reply to a pollster that they "believed" humans "have existed in their present form since the beginning of time." When they so reply, they are expressing a religious conviction and not a scientific, factual opinion. Surely the general public cannot be as scientifically ignorant as the results of the polls cited would tend to indicate. Even schoolchildren know about dinosaurs and other life forms which have evolved over time.
I can only hope that if the public is asked what they "think" rather than what they "believe," strong support for evolution would appear in the poll results.
STEVEN K. BROWN
Columbiana
Reason to blush
EDITOR:
I was entertained by the cartoon on Monday's op-ed page wherein the monkey on the witness stand is testifying for "intelligent design" with the explanation, "We're tired of the human race being blamed on us."
It reminded me of some of Mark Twain's later works in which he compares humans to various other species of animals. In his comparison the human race did poorly, as you may have guessed. He even had God himself cringing at the idea that we think we were made in His image. He also observed, "Humans are the only species who blush or have need to."
The fact is that absent the human race, the earth would be an almost perfectly balanced ecosystem. The only real threat to the long term existence life on this planet is the human race. As a famous possum once said, "We have met the enemy and they is us."
JOHN ZEDAKER
Poland
One man makes a difference
EDITOR:
Being a lifelong resident of the Youngstown region, I have grown up to value the "gifts" of the area and felt compelled to write in appreciation about one man who has made a distinct difference -- Father Richard Madden.
Father Madden faithfully says Mass at the Carmelite Monastery every weekend. He is a straightforward, humble man who has obeyed God's call while sharing the gospel messages, often delivering a current anecdote to help us make the connection. His devotion to this area is evident; a wondrous reminder that God is actively present in our lives. Father, a tall willowy figure, combines the gift of humor and offers his friendship to all who celebrate in "God's backyard." He insists on distributing communion himself, making eye contact to the many hundreds who share in the sacrament. Worshippers enjoy the welcoming environment and the supportive words that enlighten them for another week. Sitting among the congregation, I can't help but feel thankful for the privilege of being part of such a spiritual connection.
It seems easy to comment about the "negatives" about our area; we certainly have our share of problems. There's something to be said about one man, a loving priest, who continues to give spiritual guidance using a simple wooden altar and a commitment to reach out. What a blessing it is to have Father Richard Madden in our community.
YVONNE SHUTRUMP MOORE
Boardman