"Confused Rush Limbaugh Can’t Figure Out Why Gorillas Still Exist"

[Skwim]

Right-wing radio host claims evolution should have turned all gorillas into people.

Rush Limbaugh seems to think that Harambe, the gorilla shot and killed at the Cincinnati Zoo over the weekend after a young boy fell into the enclosure, is proof against evolution.

“A lot of people think that all of us used to be apes,” the right-wing radio host said on his show Tuesday, according to a transcript on his website and audio posted online by Media Matters (above).

“Don’t doubt me on this. A lot of people think that all of us used to be gorillas, and they’re looking for the missing link out there. The evolution crowd. They think we were originally apes... If we were the original apes, then how come Harambe is still an ape, and how come he didn’t become one of us?”​

Limbaugh has not explicitly described himself as a creationist, and even said in 2010 that “clearly things evolve.” However, he has also repeatedly ignored the fossil record that supports evolution, and claims that both creationism and evolution are based on faith.
source
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Ah, the ignorance of those who believe they have something intelligent to impart to us all. Just where does this hubris come from? In any case, stuff like this does make for interesting reading--snicker, snicker.

On a side note, I didn't even know Limbaugh was still alive.


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[Riverwolf]

“A lot of people think that all of us used to be apes,”​

​

They would be wrong, Mr. Limbaugh. We are apes.

“Don’t doubt me on this. A lot of people think that all of us used to be gorillas, and they’re looking for the missing link out there. The evolution crowd..​

​

Uh... wow.

1. I'm going to doubt you on this, Mr. Limbaugh, because,
2. No person who understands evolution thinks we used to be gorillas,
3. People who understand how evolution works also understands that the entire notion of
"missing link" is outdated. IOW, there's no such thing as a "missing link."

I don't really care if people understand evolution or not, but I do care about people in positions of power who don't understand evolution AND perpetuate false information about it.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

It's simple: gorillas still exist because humans haven't driven them to extinction yet.

As to the rest of the stuff...

 

[Father Heathen]

"I don't know what evolution is, much less understand it, but I know it's not true because ancient goat herder fables."

 

[Skwim]

I don't really care if people understand evolution or not, but I do care about people in positions of power who don't understand evolution AND perpetuate false information about it.

That's my biggest quarrel with creationists, they spread misinformation.


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[idav]

“A lot of people think that all of us used to be apes,” the right-wing radio host said on his show Tuesday, according to a transcript on his website and audio posted online by Media Matters (above).

“Don’t doubt me on this. A lot of people think that all of us used to be gorillas, and they’re looking for the missing link out there. The evolution crowd. They think we were originally apes... If we were the original apes, then how come Harambe is still an ape, and how come he didn’t become one of us?”​

Limbaugh has not explicitly described himself as a creationist, and even said in 2010 that “clearly things evolve.” However, he has also repeatedly ignored the fossil record that supports evolution, and claims that both creationism and evolution are based on faith.
source​

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Well the premise is off as if we were are not apes. We are still apes just like gorillas are still apes.

Yes the fossil record has to be ignored coupled with ignoring facts supporting an older earth. Following the premise that Genesis is literally true doesn't help things. For some no amount of facts and research will make Genesis untrue which is a false premise and effectively affects the way all data is perceived.

 

[Riverwolf]

That's my biggest quarrel with creationists, they spread misinformation.


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Creationists who just passively believe their thing don't really bother me. It's the creationists in positions of power that I have a problem with.

Granted, the article does say that Rush is not explicitly a creationist, but I feel like that doesn't matter. The same, as far as I'm concerned, applies to scientists and science teachers who spread misinformation that causes confusion.

 

[jeager106]

We were created.
Period.
Because I said so.

 

[Neo Deist]

RL fails to understand that we did not evolve from monkeys, but rather all primates had a common ancestor at some point way back when. Our DNA is only 3% different from chimps and orangutans. We just happen to be the species that evolved the most...and are still evolving.

 

[Riverwolf]

We just happen to be the species that evolved the most

No, we're not. We just evolved in a particular direction. There's no such thing as a scale of "more/less evolved."

 

[Neo Deist]

No, we're not. We just evolved in a particular direction. There's no such thing as a scale of "more/less evolved."

Prove it.

 

[Riverwolf]

Prove it.

Dude, it's by definition. Evolution is purely a reaction to a changing environment, and things survive based on the ability to live in that environment, or adapt to a new one.

How can anything be "more" or "less" evolved like this? That's like saying English is "more language-y" than Mandarin.

 

[Parsimony]

RL fails to understand that we did not evolve from monkeys, but rather all primates had a common ancestor at some point way back when. Our DNA is only 3% different from chimps and orangutans. We just happen to be the species that evolved the most...and are still evolving.

If you want to talk about "most evolved" or "least evolved", you'd most likely be talking about those organisms that have experienced the most change (i.e. selected mutations) throughout the totality of their generations. Since microbial generation times are so short and their mutation rate fairly high, I'd pit a lot of microbes (and even viruses) as being more evolved than humans. Complexity is not a measure of being "more evolved" or "less evolved". Some parasites are less complex than their ancestors but are more "advanced" as per evolutionary definition.

 

[Altfish]

We just happen to be the species that evolved the most...and are still evolving.

It depends what you mean by 'evolved the most'. If we take humans...
The largest brain ... yes
The best climber... no

 

[Revoltingest]

It depends what you mean by 'evolved the most'. If we take humans...
The largest brain ... yes
The best climber... no

And we're not even the largest brain.
Whales, elephants & dolphins are the kings of gray matter.
But let them try to open a stubborn jar of peaches!
Our advantage appears to be our lack of specialization in our environment.
This flexibility is what let us rise to such intellectual heights as.....
- Television so we can keep up with the Kardashians
- Automatic rifles to shoot each other
- Bacon

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

And we're not even the largest brain.
Whales, elephants & dolphins are the kings of gray matter.
But let them try to open a stubborn jar of peaches!

Yup! It's the new-fangled opposable thumb that makes us what we are!

 

[Revoltingest]

Yup! It's the new-fangled opposable thumb that makes us what we are!

Aye, this feature makes it easier to grab a rock to smash the jar.

Oh....I suppose we could unscrew the lid.
I hadn't thought of that!