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Celebrations
are an important part of every culture. They provide a tradition and a common
bond to be shared among those who make up their culture, permitting them to
experience a meaningful connection to one another and to the principles to which
they subscribe. Unfortunately, most celebrations are based on ancient traditions
that are relevant to only a specific country or culture, and they have often
been, and continue to be, the source of serious conflicts.
At this
juncture in history, the world has become so small and interdependent
that we need a Global Celebration to promote a common bond among all
people. The Darwin Day Celebration was founded on the premise that
science, like music, is an international language that speaks to
all people in very similar ways. While music is both intellectual and
entertaining, science is our most reliable knowledge system,
and it has been and continues to be acquired through human curiosity
and ingenuity. Moreover, evolution via genetic variation and natural
selection, introduced by Darwin, has become the central organizing
principle in biology. In addition, evolution also plays a central
role in astronomy and cosmology, where it refers to the way that
stars, galaxies and the entire universe ‘change over time.’ To study
biology while neglecting evolution would be like studying physics without
Newton’s laws that govern the universe or chemistry without the periodic
table. Clearly, Darwin himself has become an internationally acclaimed
figure, whose influence on progressive modern thought continues to be
both profound and pervasive (Ernst Mayr, Darwin’s Influence on Modern
Thought, Scientific American, July 2000).
Current
research in the field of genetics, including that on the human genome,
has conclusively shown that all humans are essentially identical and
that we are genetically related to all other living things on this planet.
Thus an enlightened view of genetics is one of unity and equality among
all humans and also one that fosters a deeper sense of respect and appreciation
for all life. Today the validity of Darwin’s theory of evolution by
natural selection rests in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms
of genetics. Therefore, we conclude that Charles Darwin is a worthy
symbol on which to focus, in order to build a Global Celebration of
Science and Humanity that is intended to promote a common bond among
all people of the earth.
From the Darwin Day
website.
http://www.darwinday.org
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