Bobo speaks

The past weekend saw the combustible combination of Darwin's Theory of Evolution and American politics revisited once again. It started with an appearance by Republican Georgia Congressman Jack Kingston on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" on Friday night. Kingston found himself being pressed by the host to either affirm or deny belief in the theory of Natural Selection and he answered with this:

"Well —I believe I came from God —not from a monkey
—so the answer is no."

~Congressman Jack Kingston, R-Ga

As we at Faux Journalism first reported it on Sunday evening, that's when things got interesting. Apparently smarting from the "from God —not a monkey" remark, Bobo, The Monkey —Simian in Residence at the Oatland Island Wildlife Center in Savannah, Georgia and a constituent in Congressman Kingston's district released this terse statement through his publicist.

"While our Representative in Congress may find the idea of being descended from a monkey distasteful, he should realize that there are a great many of us primates who find the notion of having shared ancestry with the Congressman equally distressing and improbable. When we take a measure of the current Conservative Caucus in Congress we see nothing to suggest that any kind of worthwhile 'evolution' has been going on. Kingston and his cronies put the lie to Darwin!"

~ Bobo, The Monkey

That's when all heck broke loose. Bobo's comments elicited a sharp reaction from several prominent area Republicans, with some even going so far as to demand his removal from Oatland Island and promising a close review of the wildlife center's public funding if prompt action is not taken. As we go to press, the director of the Oatland Island Wildlife Center has made no official statement with regard to Bobo's comments or his continued involvement with the institution.

In this Faux Journalism exclusive, we are privileged to feature a one on one interview with Bobo. He sat with us and shared his thoughts on the controversy with the congressman, the current state of our political culture and the path forward we all seek towards a more civil society.

As follows are some brief excerpts:

F.J.
First, Bobo, let me thank you for joining us. I know you've found yourself in something of swirl these last couple days. We appreciate you taking the time.

B
Well, thanks for having me —I appreciate the opportunity. I know my remarks have caused some real difficulties to a group of fine professionals, all of whom I greatly admire and respect and I certainly didn't mean to bring any of this down on their heads. So first let me apologize to all the people at Oatland Island Wildlife Center, to all my fellow members of the visiting faculty there as well. I realize, now, that what I really wanted to get across to the Congressman —and really to Mr. Maher as well— could have been expressed much more tactfully. So, again, I really appreciate this opportunity.

F.J.
Well let's get to that then. Maybe you can tell us where you were coming from with your remarks. What it was you really wanted to say.

B
I'll admit this started from a place of anger and hurt. The Congressman's remark about being "from God, not from a monkey" — it was hurtful. I think there are people who look at the way monkeys live and relate with one another, who just assume we have no inner or spiritual lives —that we have no sense of being "from God" ourselves. That's just wrong and to hear the Congressman comment as he did —well it really got to me.

F.J.
Enough to throw feces?

B
Actually, I am glad you brought that up. What was the headline you guys ran on the story Sunday"

F.J.
"GA. Republican and feces throwing chimp both vehemently deny rumors that they share common ancestry —despite DNA evidence."

B
Yes, that was it —you realize of course that the whole headline was way off base. First of all, I am a bonobo —not a chimp. And the "feces throwing" remark —that was just gratuitous and degrading...

F.J.
We are sorry about that. Your publicist contacted us on that issue and we are planning a lengthy and detailed retraction —but let's get back to your thoughts on the Congressman's remarks.

B
Yes, lets. I've given the matter a lot of thought over the last couple of days —and as much as I am angry with what Representative Kingston said —with his tone and all —I've also come to think that maybe he was as much a victim as a perpetrator in the the whole ugly scene that was unfolding on Mr. Maher's program Friday night. It just strikes me that the whole subject of evolution and religious belief had been soured and stirred once again only for the sake of some ugly spectacle. I think the whole scene was an example of the misfire in our public discourse these days. No one was earnestly and candidly exploring theology or science on that television show. No one was there to truly fathom the others views and understand them. The business at hand was garish caricature of each others ideas and beliefs.

As I think of it now, I am sure that when Representative Kingston bows down to pray —when he is alone with what he understands as God —I am sure that there is more subtlety and grace to those prayers —to his beliefs.

Personally, I would like to believe that in the presence of that grace —in the honest fathoming of his own faith he could find his way to a place of respect for another of God's creatures —even a monkey like me.

F.J.
I think I hear what you're saying —But I just know there are readers who are going take in what you're saying and feel like you're being way too charitable towards Representative Kingston. Frankly, they are going to wish you were still angry and if not literally at least figuratively throwing... well, you know.

B
Oh, I know —What was the term Maher used about denying the Theory of Evolution? —Risible, he said it was 'risible' to believe otherwise from "man evolved from monkeys." You know, I think Maher's use of the subject was every bit as risible. It's rude theology and crude science. I think Darwin would be horrified to hear his theories on selection devolved to such a level as this either or ultimatum of pseudo-modernity —to see his theories treated as some litmus orthodoxy for self-impressed thinkers. From what I've read and heard, Darwin himself was quite a religious and spiritual man, what he studied and theorized on was something he pondered as the handwriting of creation —the method and means of God himself. He would be horrified to see that devoted study turned to the purpose of a coarse cartoon —a clown show entertainment.

F.J.
So if I am getting you right —the message you really want to get out there in the aftermath of this incident is —well, something like —Sorry, Congressman, I lost my head.

B
Well, maybe that. They say that the best sermons are given by sinners. So maybe this was my opportunity to get up on a worthwhile soapbox. Sure, on a certain level it felt good to get off a snide rejoinder in the Congressman's direction. But in the aftermath of my little press release I also had this sense of things in my own world just getting darker, nastier, narrower —for myself and for those in the world around me. I think there are too many of us, in this day and age, who prefer a clever insult to a useful insight.

Look —I can and should challenge ideas that are abhorrent to me —like the casually expressed disdain for my very being I heard in the Congressman's remark. But that challenge is so much more meaningful —and maybe even more effective— if I can bring it from a place of compassion and respect —a genuine desire to understand and be understood —only then to persuade.

Faith and science, prayer and pondering, progress and conservatism —even as these acquainted concepts contest and challenge each other to grow and evolve —there just has to be more —more mutual respect —more love.

F.J.
Bobo, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on all this. I know you have a busy week ahead of you and we really do appreciate you affording us this time.

B
My pleasure —peace, brother.