On Fri, 4 Feb 2005 10:16:33 -0800 (PST), Robert <rkscience100(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
He is using the same tactic used by certain religious
fundamentalists who deny that there are any peer-reviewed
papers which prove that Evolution occurs, and the same
tactic used by religious fundamentalists who claim that
there are no peer-reviewed papers which prove that the
world is 4.5 billion years old.
In all such cases there *are* such papers, and in all cases
Wikipedia articles *do* link to reputable cites which have
vast amounts of peer-reviewed scientific information on
this topic. We can add more citations of course, but
Pasternak's claim is not meant to improve the article. It
is meant to mislead, obfuscate, and push AIDS-denial, and
it is written in the same way that Evolution deniers and
Holocaust deniers work. They give the appearance of being
rational, but they distort statements made by other people,
and refuse to accept any evidence at all.
Let's be careful with wording here. There is nothing to *prove*
evolution, the age of the Earth or the link between HIV and AIDS.
What there is is a great deal of evidence, probably overwhelmingly so,
to suggest these things. I personally agree with all these points,
but it is not correct to say that they are proved. Also, I think any
claims that the Holocaust did not occur are absolute nonsense -
however, there are reasonable arguments against evolution. We must,
however, understand that peer-review does *not* alone make something
true and undisputable.
Smoddy