I just heard that state Rep. Gary Chism, R-Columbus, has introduced House Bill 25, requiring that all textbooks in the state that discuss evolution contain a disclaimer that evolution is a controversial theory and that it can’t explain certain observable facts about the history of life on our planet.

I can’t begin to tell you how wrong the whole text of the bill is. The last paragraph detailing the Cambrian explosion, the lack of transitional species and the lack of “instructions” to create complex life — all of this is wrong. I don’t know where these ideas comes from, but current evolutionary theory has very cogent explanations for all of these things.

Evolution is not a controversial theory except in the minds of a scientifically ignorant cadre of anti-science extremists, who unfortunately wield influence far beyond their intellectual capacities and scientific understanding. The fact that it hasn’t answered all questions about the history of life on our planet does not mean that evolution is not the best current theoretical framework we have, and 150 years of research, study and constant criticism has only proved how powerful this theory is.

Coming on a day when we just found out we lead the nation in teenage pregnancy, a tragedy which we can also lay at the feet of extremists who won’t allow a rational sex education curriculum in our schools, I fear for our young people.

Shall we put disclaimers on our geology textbooks that the theory that the earth is round is only a theory? Shall we caution that the germ theory of disease can’t explain every illness and so therefore we should not trust it? Should we add astrology to our astronomy curriculum?

We need to provide the best education we can to our children in all subjects and at all levels.

John Frum

Vicksburg

Snuff out smoking in 2009

The grades are out and the state of Mississippi is failing to protect public health from the dangers of tobacco. Last week, Mississippi received an “F” in three of the four categories in the American Lung Association’s State of Tobacco Control 2008 report. Tobacco is the No. 1 preventable cause of death in Mississippi, killing 4,700 adults every year and costing our state $719 million annually. We can no longer ignore this substantial financial drain. This must be the year that Mississippi leaders finally pass policies that not only protect our children from a lifetime of tobacco addiction but also reduce the crushing burden that tobacco use places on our health-care system and economy.

The American Lung Association in Mississippi and other health advocates are focused on fighting for adequate funding for tobacco cessation and prevention programs, increasing the tobacco tax by a significant amount and enacting statewide smokefree legislation in 2009. Now is the time to improve the health of all citizens in Mississippi, and pass strong tobacco control policies.

Jennifer Cofer

Executive director

American Lung Association

Ridgeland

Singing Hills resident has clout

It would be very interesting to know who has so much clout on Singing Hills Road that stop signs have been placed at its intersection with Redbone Road in both directions.

Singing Hills Road already had a stop sign, so why would you stop the main traffic on Redbone? You have hundreds of cars daily on Redbone that now have to stop to let a select few dozen cars a day out at Singing Hills Road. This made as much sense as would putting a stop sign on U.S. 61 South to let traffic from Redbone get out easier.

I have seen a lot of things the city has done that did not make a lot of sense to me, but this takes the cake of all of them.

John Barrentine

Vicksburg

New intersection adds danger

After waiting more than a year there is a revised entrance into the Belle Meade subdivision on Porters Chapel Road. This flawed design could potentially cause many accidents. An employee of the contractor APAC said this was the worse design he had ever worked on and predicted many accidents. There are four stop signs. They are located at the Belle Meade entrance, Cherry Bark Road entrance and two on Porters Chapel Road.

Warning signs have been placed at each end of the intersection on Porter’s Chapel Road. Another set of warning signs should be placed at a distance from the signs there now. It may be that stop signs will not be needed on Porters Chapel at all. In the past this has worked fine. Cars on Porters Chapel definitely need to slow down approaching this intersection. Maybe the speed limit could be reduced substantially on Porters Chapel in the vicinity of the entrances.

The Belle Meade Subdivision entrance is in a curve and those coming from ERDC can’t see the intersection until they are upon it. The same is true but with better visibility coming from the other direction. I would suggest that the city leaders revisit this design with the help of MDOT personnel to make sure the safest design is in place.

Samuel Heltzel

Vicksburg

Right man has been at the helm

The eight years of the George Bush presidency is over and I am thankful to God to have had him at the helm of our country in a time of real danger.

Thank you, President Bush, for protecting us from another deadly terrorist attack. Thank you, President Bush, for keeping peace in the country. Regardless of the loud voices of many of your critics, you  ran a clean administration with no bribery and trafficking in influence scandals.

His personal honesty will be a standard hard to match for any of the next presidents of our country. With a voice from the Old Testament, I pray God to protect him and keep him, to give him peace and joy.

Julius Herscovici,

Vicksburg

Ferris should be honored

I think it is very honorable that legislation has been introduced for the old All Saints’ School to be named for former Sen. Grey Ferris, a good and honorable man who did so much for the state and Vicksburg.

Thanks to state Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, and Rep. George Flaggs, D-Vicksburg.

I’m sure this helps the Ferris family – his wife and the rest of the good Ferris family with their grief.

I only wish that one day soon we can have a governor like the man Grey Ferris was and like former Gov. William Winter. The same wish applies to local government here in Vicksburg.

Mickey Loyacono

Vicksburg