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To: restornu
The eminent observer Everett Olson notes that there is "a generally silent group" of biological scientists "who tend to disagree with much of the current thought" about evolution, but who remain silent for fear of censure.

Everett Olson was a noted mainstream paleontologist (not an "eminent observer") who AFAIK totally supported the ToE. Does anyone know anything about this, "everyone is too frightened to speak out" quote?

18 posted on 02/12/2005 6:34:15 AM PST by Thatcherite (Conservative and Biblical Literalist are not synonymous)
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To: Thatcherite
Everett Olson was a noted mainstream paleontologist (not an "eminent observer") who AFAIK totally supported the ToE.

...and died in 1993, an event of whicht he author is unaware. I'm sure Olson didn't say this, at least in the context it's presented. He taught TOE to non-science majors at Berkeley, for heaven's sake.

23 posted on 02/12/2005 7:17:33 AM PST by Right Wing Professor (Evolve or die!)
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To: Thatcherite; restornu
Found the quote. As you surmised, it's a total distortion. Here's a fuller quote, with context

"there exists, as well, a generally silent group of students engaged in biological pursuits who tend to disagree with much of the current thought, but say and write little because they are not particularly interested, do not see that controversy over evolution is of any particular importance, or are so strongly in disagreement that it seems futile to undertake the monumental task of controverting the immense body of information and theory that exists in the formulation of modern thinking." As to how many had actually deserted ranks, Olson contended that it is "difficult to judge the size and composition of this silent segment, but there is no doubt that the numbers are not inconsiderable." (Olson E.C., in Tax S., ed., "Evolution after Darwin," Vol. 1, 1960, p.523, in Rifkin J., "Algeny," 1983, pp.114-115).

he's clearly talking about Biology students, right, presumably college students.

Stark changed it to this

The eminent observer Everett Olson notes that there is "a generally silent group" of biological scientists "who tend to disagree with much of the current thought" about evolution, but who remain silent for fear of censure.

So the students are now scientists, and the bit about fear of censure is totally made up. And the quote was from an address in 1959.

What a goddamn liar!

I am going to get the original articles, and make an academic fraud complaint to Baylor. This is beyond any reasonable definition of academic honesty.

25 posted on 02/12/2005 7:28:00 AM PST by Right Wing Professor (Evolve or die!)
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