Destroying Human Exceptionalism By Creating Human/Chimp Hybrids

SecondHand Smoke ^ | July | Wesley Smith

[hocndoc]

My answer is always, "When the animals start having these conversations, I'll discuss it with them."

The original editorial is in the LA Times, which requires free registration and which restricts posting to FR.

I still recommend that those who are interested go and read it.

"Because in these dark days of know-nothing anti-evolutionism, with religious fundamentalists occupying the White House, controlling Congress and attempting to distort the teaching of science in our schools, a powerful dose of biological reality would be healthy indeed. And this is precisely the message that chimeras, hybrids or mixed-species clones would drive home.

[hocndoc]

I hope Barash writes tons of editorials for the LAT, and that more and more people read them. I couldn't have made up a better example of the insanity of *not* being "human centric" than this:

GENETICISTS studying human and chimpanzee DNA have concluded that a few million years ago, pre-humans and pre-chimps produced hybrids between the two species. And in the American evolutionary wars, this is good news.

Of course, the very idea of ancestral human beings and chimpanzees "exchanging genes" makes people squirm, because (let's face it) this means sexual intercourse between our ancient human and animal ancestors. It is hard enough to contemplate our parents copulating; to think of our very great-grandparents not only descended from "monkeys" but having sex with them is difficult to conceive. But conceive is what they evidently did.

There is, however, an even greater source of discomfort at work here; not simple squeamishness about sex but a deeper repugnance that goes to the heart of why so many Americans continue to be so resistant to the theory of evolution. And this is why I not only welcome the news that humans and chimpanzees commingled genes in the past, I also look forward to the possibility that, thanks to advances in reproductive technology, there will be hybrids, or some other mixed human-animal genetic composite, in our future.

[Once-Ler]

What is the Law?

Not to run on all fours.
That is the law.
Are we not men?

[The Red Zone]

My answer is always, "When the animals start having these conversations, I'll discuss it with them."

The United Critters.

[Calusa]

Just another way to increase the Democrat base. If we have a chance we must replace Justice Stevens with a Judge with absolute allegiance to the second ammendment. Full disclosure: I personally do not own or exercise fire arms in any way whatsoever.

[Monterrosa-24]

Lots of zip wads have no respect for human life but practically worship apes, dolphins, and even trees. But perhaps popular opinion will disable the creation of these hybreds because it is unfair to the ape.

[Secret Agent Man]

... I also look forward to the possibility that, thanks to advances in reproductive technology, there will be hybrids, or some other mixed human-animal genetic composite, in our future. Ummm, why are you so excited to bring back, according to evolutionary theory, genetic dead-ends or genetic halfways? They are less evolved species and the evolutionary process you believe in consequently got rid of them and more evolved beings surpassed them.

[SteveMcKing]

There was an old-time circus that featured a purported man-chimp. Not simply a mock-up, but a mysterious species at the very least.

Also- Stalin tasked at least one famous doctor (name?) with creating an ape-man species that could be bred into warriors. When the doctor failed, Stalin had him Gulag'd where he died before long.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Are we not men?

We are Devo!

[MHGinTN]

Poor Barash doesn't have a clue as to what made Adam different from the other humankind of his epoch ... that breathing the spirit into Adam so he became to a living soul is just too hard for the Barashes of the world to accept because it grants to God too much those have chosen to assume for themselves: "... it would be difficult and perhaps impossible for the special pleaders to maintain the fallacy that Homo sapiens is uniquely disconnected from the rest of life ..." Such energy wasted on raling against the Creator! Reminds me of one Nebuchadnezzar who ended up wandering in madness on the plains of Al Shamiya when he raled against the Most High.

[MHGinTN]

rale = rail (as in complain angrily) ... tired fingers

[MHGinTN]

Thanks, I needed that levity! That was a good one, though my cats would challenge your inference that they aren't communicating with me when they want something (they never bother to acknowledge my presence unless they do want something).

[SWAMPSNIPER]

"Apes, dolphins, and even trees"?

I favor alligators, they are so reliable, LOL!
I suspect that attempts have been made at man/ape hybrids, just not publicly.

[grey_whiskers]

I suspect that attempts have been made at man/ape hybrids, just not publicly.

'Nuff said.

Cheers!

[grey_whiskers]

I bet Princeton's Peter Singer is volunteering to help get the apes pregnant.

[editor-surveyor]

"Poor Barash doesn't have a clue as to what made Adam different from the other humankind of his epoch"

It's plain for all to see and know: God's word plainly states that Adam is the father of all men. That's the difference.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[DannyTN]

"There was an old-time circus that featured a purported man-chimp. Not simply a mock-up, but a mysterious species at the very least. "

There was an old-time circus that paraded a pygmy as the missing link.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Guys like this could only survive in a university. The real world would kill them.