Why Are We Ignoring Darwin?

For millions of years, the world has been shaped by evolution. For millions of years, the strongest, smartest, most adaptable organisms survived and passed those favorable traits on to their offspring.

Somewhere in relatively recent history, evolution caused mankind to arise from the primates. He walked erect, he developed a language and became the tool user. He gathered, he hunted and he prospered. Before long, family units formed tribes and then civilization.

Throughout history, those that were weak or sickly usually perished at childbirth or before they reached the age of two. Those who were stupid, never rose to the top. They became cannon fodder, assuring the rest of us would live. They plodded along in menial jobs while the smart -- who may have started out in the stable or the factory floor (depending on the era) -- ended up in the castle or the executive suite.

But recently, Americans have decided to fight Darwin and the weight of millions of years of evolution. The weak must be protected, they say. The stupid must be given the same advantages as the smart. Every life is precious, and we must protect them all equally. We must create legislation to protect the stupid from themselves.

What bullshit!

Yes, the weak, the innocent, the young must be protected and allowed to grow up, much as the mother bear protects her cubs and teaches them what survival skills instinct has not. But this is a family responsibility, not a role for government. And certainly, the old should be cherished and honored, much as the Native Americans (see, I can be politically correct) respect the wisdom of their elders. And if my child was afflicted with a terrible debilitating disease, I would do everything within my power to effect a cure.

But why should the stupid or those who ignore common sense, take wild risks, make poor decisions or endanger themselves be placed on the same playing field as the smart? Why must we legislate laws to protect the stupid and the dumb? Why should we spend hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to find the lost hiker who was too dumb to take a map, who neglected to wear comfortable shoes, who thought his GPS was a magic talisman and couldn't make a fire without a lighter and a wad of dry newspaper.

Let's face it, if you lack the common sense to use a helmet when you ride a motorbike, wear a seat belt when you drive a car, lock your gun inside a safe when you are not home or use strange drugs, then laws designed to "protect you from yourself" are probably going to fall on deaf ears. Just like laws designed to prevent criminals from owning guns are useless. Hell, they wouldn't be criminals if they didn't already break more than a few laws.

Survival is all about taking steps to protect yourself. It's not my fault if you decide to ignore common sense and take wild risks. Sure, risk is fun, exhilarating and can add spice to your life. So take up skydiving and pack your own chute. Or learn to rock climb and stay within your limits. But if you decide to tempt Darwin on a daily basis with reckless or stupid behavior, that's your business and maybe the business of those who love you. It's none of my business, nor Uncle Sam's. So go and be foolish. Take daring risks, but just don't expect the rest of us to worry when your particular formula is eliminated from the gene pool.