It’s a Follow-Up Post
I’m eating my words all right. What happened over the weekend still doesn’t seem in step with reality, but for a different reason now. Why? Why why why? The videos show people running up to windows, taking three swings with a baseball bat and then retreating into a crowd. Another clip shows someone trying to launch a newspaper box through a window. Really?
This isn’t practical, it doesn’t get out the right message. The message we hear isn’t “save the whales” or “feed the starving” or anything useful. Those messages just become footnotes, and the real protesters have a lot to be upset about. This weekend, the medium was the message, and was ugly.
Showdown
A week or two ago we were told not to come to work during G20 summit: the shop and most of the campus would be closed those days due to our close proximity to the protests scheduled at Queen’s Park. This seemed strange at first. Protests in Toronto are regular enough after all, and if organized well, usually peaceful. Granted, something polarizing like the G20 is probably going to draw a larger crowd, but surely–
I’m not sure that the over-the-top security measures are really in step with reality. Maybe a month from now I’ll be eating those words, but right now it looks like they’re expecting a city-wide riot. What’s more terrifying: the idea of local law enforcement gearing up for a small war, or the possibility that it might all be necessary? Or maybe it’s self-perpetuating, I don’t know. The rhetoric from Star and Globe commenters is wearing thin too, though this is true for most stories (conspiracy theorists are particularly well-represented on G20 stories).
Above all the noise of dissenting opinions, I just hope the G20 passes uneventfully. Peaceful protests are one of those things that make Canada great; the right to yell through a megaphone without fear of arrest or martial law is something not all nations enjoy. I think it loses some of its relevance though once you see people being carried away on stretchers; does the us versus them mentality begin to upstage the actual issues? It’s not a rhetorical question, I really don’t know.
Magnets: Great, but not Magical
Forgive me for not having a great deal of enthusiasm for Mr. Gary Goodyear. Take this quote for example, published by the Globe and Mail, as Goodyear answers whether or not he believes in evolution:
“I’m not going to answer that question. I am a Christian, and I don’t think anybody asking a question about my religion is appropriate.”
This by itself doesn’t merit coverage. It’s well-established that evolution has its skeptics, after all. The reason you should be worried is because, as Gigi pointed out, this man is our federal Minister of Science and Technology. Before we grab our torches and pitchforks, perhaps we should look over his resume. The article claims that Goodyear studied chemistry, physics, statistics and kinesiology as an undergrad, and fiddled about with automotive mechanics in highschool. That sounds pretty good, actually. A man with this background is surely a good fit for the cabinet post. In fact, his early accomplishments are downright impressive:
“When I was in high school, we were already tweaking with a coil that would wrap around the upper [radiator] hose and it got an extra five miles to the gallon. … So I’ve been there on this discovery stuff.”
Discovery stuff indeed, Gary. There’s only one problem: it’s bogus. More specifically, it’s bogus when applied to the fuel line. It’s double-plus bogus when applied to the radiator hose which pumps water-based coolants or oil, not gasoline. Suddenly I’m anxious again. Beliefs of evolution aside, Goodyear must at least appear qualified for his portfolio, and this is worrisome.
Let’s be clear: religion is not the enemy of science, nor does it preclude someone from following a career in science. We should all be open-minded and accept that years of science and years or theology still haven’t defined the exact means by which the universe exists, and the answers may yet be controversial to all beliefs. However I expect that whatever religion or non-religion our Minister of Science and Technology happens to follow, he judge evolution by its own merits and not invoke religion as a contention against it.
UPDATE: Goodyear has decided that yes, he does believe in evolution. I recommend reading the full article for context, as this clarification is not as reassuring as it should be.
