| Issue #39, December 22, 2006 |
25 Years Ago In Dan’s Papers January 1, 1982
Hiding The Polar Bear’s Nose
By Dan Rattiner
Down in Little Rock, Arkansas, there is a court case taking place about Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. State officials, on the one hand, are saying that the Bible’s version of creation should have equal time in the public schools with the Darwinian theory. They have passed a law called the Balanced Treatment Act mandating that both versions be taught at the same time. The American Civil Liberties Union, on the other hand, is challenging the new law, claiming that it is another case of the State meddling with freedom of religion. The situation brings back the passions of the Scopes Trial, which took place 56 years ago.
“When this is all over,” reflected US Marshal Charles Gray, “it won’t have changed anyone’s mind.” This is probably true.
Meanwhile, four thousand miles away in the village of Churchill, Canada, they have an entirely different problem. This town of 2,000 people, it turns out, was built smack on the site of a polar bear migratory route and just a few miles north of a polar bear “nesting” ground. The result is a massive polar bear problem. The town fathers keep guards on the streets at night, urge people to lock their doors — as if any door would keep out a 1,500 pound white polar bear — and over Halloween actually escorted the town children from house to house for trick or treating.
But having these hundreds of polar bears prowling around has also resulted in a major new industry for Churchill. Tourists flock to the town for guided tours which take them out to observe the bears. Views of the polar bears can practically be guaranteed any day on the outskirts of town and especially at the Churchill Town Dump, which is virtually shared between the townspeople who brings things to the dump and the polar bears who scavenge.
What was most interesting, however, was a new discovery about polar bear behavior when stalking their favorite food, the polar seals. Now the seals weigh 600 pounds and would ordinarily be a formidable foe for just about anybody, but a swat from a 1,500 pound polar bear and the seals are done for. No contest.
For the polar bears, however, the real problem is how to get close enough to the seal to take a swat. Seals are quick and if they see a bear coming, can quickly leap off an ice floe and swim away. Thus, a big white polar bear must use stealth. He sneaks up slowly and quietly, his white fur blending in perfect camouflage with the ice and snow all around. About thirty feet from the seals, the polar bear almost invariably stops for a moment. Very carefully, he lifts up a white paw and places it over the only part of his body that could give him away: his black nose. Then he moves in.
I have thought long and hard about this discovery. I have tried very hard to imagine that it is Darwinian evolution responsible for this scene of a 1,500 pound white polar bears sneaking along with their paws over their black noses, and I have failed.
Let them teach the Bible version of creation in Arkansas right alongside the Darwinian version. I don’t see any other choice.
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