Behavioral Ecology Blog

A few months ago, I was motivated to muse about all the reasons I hate starbucks.. I posted them here. In summary, Starbucks coffee:

1. Is expensive
2. The people are pretentious
3. The coffee tastes like shit- remember- even McDonalds is better!
4. Their business practices are not eco-friendly.
5. No (or very limited) Fair Traded coffee
6. Bad music…

Now, even worse.. Starbucks coffee is supporting the Discovery Institutes’ anti-evolution rhetoric. They have allowed Johnathan Wells (Author of several ID books) to write a short blurb that they are printing on the coffee cups!! It says:

“Darwinism’s impact on traditional social values has not been as benign as its advocates would like us to believe. Despite the efforts of its modern defenders to distance themselves from its baleful social consequences, Darwinism’s connection with eugenics, abortion and racism is a matter of historical record, and the record is not pretty.”

Rebuttal from PZ:

Man, it’s awfully hard to take Wells seriously. What kind of idiot would think those three things are the product of or in any way inspired by a publication from 1859? What kind of illogical nitwit would think the consequences of an idea have any bearing on the truth of that idea?

• Eugenics: Eugenics was not the invention of evolution, but was inspired by animal husbandry and genetics. Darwin was a smart guy, but he did not invent the domestication of animals.

• Abortion: Likewise, Darwin was not the first abortionist (or any kind of abortionist, for that matter), and I suspect that as a proper Victorian gentleman he would have been horrified to consider it. I don’t know of any writings by the guy on that subject; if there were, I wouldn’t be surprised if he were against it.

• Racism: Racism preceded Darwin by a long, long time, and religion is wrapped up in it, too.

OK, as if we didn’t have anymore reasons to hate Starbucks…