RBESRQ, I am not optimistic about changing the beliefs of certain segments of the American people. The great changer will be the death of this and several additional future generations. For example, look at evolving beliefs about witchcraft, the earth's being the center of the universe, and the germ theory of disease. One of my favorite quotes is from Upton Sinclair -- "It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it."; which in a current discussion of evolution v. creation could be paraphrased to -- "It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salvation (he believes) depends upon his not understanding it."

Mike, this is America. You can believe whatever you want to, and your beliefs can be counter to overwhelming scientific evidence. Such is our great country. The beliefs of many (sometimes most) American are often a source of great distress to me and others who value the use of reason and logic in forming beliefs.

Mike, I can only conclude that you must be evangelical who will always stick with your "false view" (see below) because you have not seen all the evidence, nor have you interpreted what you have seen correctly, nor would you give up you core belief no matter how strong the conflicting evidence. "False facts are highly injurious to the progress of science, for they often endure long; but false views, if supported by some evidence, do little harm, for every one takes a salutary pleasure in proving their falseness." -- Charles Darwin