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Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)
A Theory About Why Republicans Oppose Evolution
The behavior of the Far Right is leading the country toward the abyss, in my view. The party of the far right, the Republicans, embrace the worst ideas of the modern era. Here is a short list of what they oppose:
- Secular government and a strict separation of church and state. This, many see, as "taking god out of the classroom!"
- Stem cell research.
- A woman's choice regarding abortion.
- Gay rights.
- Gun control.
- Family planning.
The Republicans also offer the nation the sorriest politicians. A partial list that could stretch for pages includes:
- Sarah Palin.
- Michelle Bachman.Â
- Mike Huckabee.
- Mitt Romney.
- George Bush and his sidekick Dick Cheney.
Rather than the US Constitution or other secular sources of guidance, they embark and claim allegiance to "holy" books.Â
These anti-science throwbacks were in control of the federal government for eight years of this decade and continue to enjoy a majority influence on the US Supreme Court. How are we going to survive?
Pondering this worry led me to wonder if our distant ancestors lived wellness lifestyles? How far back do you think wellness goes? I think wellness was common long, long ago. I suspect the first wellness innovator was an ancestor common to man and apes, who probably lived in Africa. This animal, in time, developed a conscious awareness of the importance of self-responsibility, for if he/she delegated too much to associates, he/she was likely to fall to a predator real fast. The likelihood of being devoured if unfit, irrational and stupid was high, every day.Â
My sense from where I sit, in a civilized world millions of years later, is that such a threat would still be a real motivator today. If sedentary people risked being eaten if overweight and slow, they would exercise, as necessary. Ditto thinking critically. Thus, it's something of a pity that there are not more saber-toothed tigers on the prowl in our own time.
The earliest pre-humans evolved into a species scientists have named Australopithecus. This was the first hominid to walk upright, to stretch, do yoga, attend "lunch and learn" midday lectures, jog and otherwise master the fundamentals of exercise science.
Australopithecus, in turn, gave way over the eons to Homo habilis, a short-lived species as species go. Homo habilis is believed to be the first to use tools, presumably including knives and forks.
Closer to our time, in fact only two million years ago, a flick of an eye in cosmic terms, there came upon the scene the genus Homo erectus. I'm not sure what this group did to distinguish themselves, though judging from the name it might be best not to get too specific. In any event, our guys—Homo sapiens, appeared a mere 150,000 years ago, when much of the basics concerning a wellness lifestyle were already well established.
So, I think our distant ancestors did practice wellness lifestyles and that these wellness innovators paved the way for sensible people today. Stand proud, respect these true pioneers and do your part in order that our good species, Homo sapiens, does not fade into history before we have to give way to the next evolutionary advance. At least let's hope it will be an advance, but I suppose there are no guarantees about that—especially given the proclivities of today's Republican Party.
Do like Australopithecus, Homo habilis and Homo erectus—look on the bright side of life. And hope that the current Republican Party evolves in a positive way before all is lost.
This essay first appeared at this site on November 11, 2000. At that time, it was entitled "Homo Australopithecus and Wellness."Â Â
Domain: mentalSubdomain: factual knowledge
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