On a scheduled banknote replacement,
On July 24, the Bank of England announced removing Charles Darwin from the British 10 pound note beginning in 2017. Shortly after the announcement, the supporters of the change were bombarded with rape and death threats – the vast majority came via Twitter.
Slate reporter Katie Roiphe notes that “No sooner was Darwin’s demise on the 10-pound note announced then anger flared up from every angle.”
Nick Schrifrin of ABC News reported that “the abuse flooded in. Horrible, vile abuse. Hundreds of Twitter users bombarded Criado-Perez on the service, threatening violence. Threatening rape. One Twitter user even created @rapehernow.
Okay, that’s it.
Darwinism is not only a religion, but it is headed up by some seriously questionable people who attract just the sort of adherents you might expect.
It’s only a banknote, folks. And to whose religion does a banknote belong?
We may take it as a given that if one’s religion so easily results in threats of mayhem, it is no good for the adherent or for society.
The next big question is, what about the Christian Darwinists? What ails them?
Note: As between Austen’s understanding of human nature and Darwin’s, bank on Austen any day.
Hat tip: Bornagain77