Photo Credits:National Public Radio (NPR)
Darwin Day Resolution, which honors Charles Darwin on his birth date February the 12th, has been introduced in the House by Rep. Jim Himes. This resolution was introduced in the House by some members of Congress since 2011, and it had a companion in the Senate with Sen. Richard Blumenthal sponsoring Senate Resolution 63 and similar resolutions since 2015. The resolution, officially known as House Resolution 123, designates “February 12, 2019 as ‘Darwin Day’ and [recognizes] the importance of science in the betterment of humanity.” It also states the importance and the validity of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection and criticizes the teaching of creationism in some public schools.
“Charles Darwin represents the power of science and reason to change our world and the way we view our place in the universe,” said Rep. Himes, as Patheos reports. “Overcoming the challenges we face — the destruction of our environment, the need for renewable energy, and global population growth — will require the best humanity has to offer. We must inspire a new generation of Americans to enter the fields of science, technology, math and engineering. There is no nobler pursuit than acquiring an education in order to better the lot of humanity. There is no nobler title one can wear than “scientist.”
Celebration of February the 12th as a Darwin Day has a long history and is celebrated around the world in order to commemorate Darwin's birthday and highlight his contributions to science and to promote science in general. The celebration of Darwin's work and tributes to his life have been organized sporadically since his death on April 19, 1882 at age 73. Events took place at Down House, in Downe on the southern outskirts of London where Darwin and members of his family lived from 1842 until the death of his wife, Emma Darwin, in 1896. In 2015, Delaware's governor Jack Markell declared February 12th “Charles Darwin Day,” making Delaware the first state in America to formally mark the occasion.
In the last couple of years, the abovementioned resolutions were introduced, as the ones filed this year, and it is pleasant to see the members of Congress honoring science instead of denying it. Considering that this bill requires no money, isn’t changing any laws, and is a straightforward endorsement of science, it ought to pass without a problem. Unluckily there is always a possibility that a resolution, which is not harmful in any way and has only positive connotations, provokes reactions from some conservative groups.
