Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxr.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!genrad!grkermit!masscomp!clyde!burl!we13!ihnp4!ihuxr!lew From: lew@ihuxr.UUCP Newsgroups: net.misc Subject: Ray Miller's Paluxy article Message-ID: <893@ihuxr.UUCP> Date: Tue, 7-Feb-84 17:45:35 EST Article-I.D.: ihuxr.893 Posted: Tue Feb 7 17:45:35 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 9-Feb-84 22:30:52 EST Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 47 A few weeks ago, Paul Dubuc graciously sent me a spare copy of ORIGINS RESEARCH (Vol. 6, no. 1), published by "Students for Origins Research" or SOR. He has stated that this organization "seems to consider both sides objectively", and he recommends this tabloid to those seeking a balanced view of the "Creation/Evolution controversy". Incidentally, this issue contains "A Reply to Niles Eldredge", which Paul transcribed onto the net last May. The paper is interesting, but I don't think I can agree that it is objective. It is in fact the organ of a self-professed creationist organization. Pauls characterization is evidently inspired by their practice of "giving evolutionists some space" in the letters column and in some feature articles. This is commendable, but the editorial point of view shows through quite clearly. I said it was interesting. Check this item: Most college students head south for the beaches during spring break. SOR President at Urbana, Ray Miller, also headed south but for different reasons - to discover fossilized footprints. Ray and SOR faculty advisor Professor M. E. Clark spent the last week in March on the McFall farm on the Paluxy River in Glen Rose, Texas. There they joined Dr. Carl Baugh and others in the excavation of the Cretaceous limestone in a search for fossilized footprints. In all the group discovered 31 dinosaur prints, 3 barefoot human prints, and three possible moccasin prints. On the same page there are 2 photos, one of some footprints, and one of Dr. Carl Baugh working at the site. Net.religion readers might remember that Dr. Baugh is the one currently engaged in raising 3.5 million dollars to build an ark-shaped creationism museum near Glen Rose. In my opinion, the ark-museum casts a long, dark shadow over the scientific legitimacy of Dr. Baugh's paleontology. In Ray Miller's account of his Paluxy River excursion, he adopts the stance of a disinterested observer. He refers to creationists in the third person plural, as though not to include himself. Of course, he omits to mention his Presidency of the Urbana chapter of the SOR. And he presumes to lecture us on the requirements of objective judgement! Let me anticipate Ray's protestation that his occupancy of that office is irrelevant to his account. I'm sure that most people would consider it highly relevant. Would he have us believe that it just didn't occur to him to mention it? Well, I don't believe that. I think his whole account was an imposture. Lew Mammel, Jr. ihnp4!ihuxr!lew