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6 THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2011 EDITORIAL The late Editor Hartley Coles said it best... LESS LITTER A small seed This weekend, from Thursday to Sunday, is a commemoration of events that happened almost 2,000 years ago in the tiny country of Palestine (Israel) and particularly in its capital and centre of worship ­ Jerusalem. Palestine was under Roman domination in an empire called the greatest in the known world. The Romans kept their conquered countries subjugated, so when Jesus of Nazareth was accused of blasphemy by religious authorities, he was eventually taken to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, to be tried. The events which revolved around Jesus' arrest, trial, and execution, have been graphically shown in Mel Gibson's, The Passion of Christ, two hours of film dramatizing the same. For those who prefer the Christ of a stained glass window, the sanitized Prophet, this is not a film to see. It's a bloody account of a time when brutality and bloodshed were rampant. Roman crucifixion, a common death for rebels and criminals, was a horrible way to die. In Jesus' case, the gospels tell us, it was preceded by a scourging which barely left Him alive. The Romans spared no part of the body in their humiliation using knotted whips that had pieces of metal imbedded every few inches to inflict grievous cuts. Gibson's film, which we have seen, has been criticized for its bloodiness, although it apparently relied on information from authorities who have studied life in those times. Perhaps there was too much time spent on the passion of the Christ and only fleeting time for the Resurrection. However, critics who have lambasted the film for dwelling on the misery and degradation meted out to the Christ, were not so vocal about previous Gibson films such as Braveheart or the reality shown in the D-Day landings of Saving Private Ryan. We suspect some of them had ulterior motives in their critiques of the film especially since some were critical before they saw it. That was evident when they went after Gibson's father, someone who likely belonged to the flat earth society, so they could portray Mel Gibson as a bit unhinged. Their criticisms didn't stop The Passion of Christ from being a box office success, something which probably has critics gnashing their teeth. It has also triggered a new interest in Jesus Christ. Gibson's film aside, this weekend, which ends with the feast of Easter, is at the heart of the Christian religion. Modern Gnostics question the gospel accounts as if they had been there and seize on improbable events to cast aspersions on its authenticity. No matter. Even the date of Easter has been the source of dispute. Eastern churches still celebrate Easter according to the old Julian calendar. Most others follow the formula that states Easter comes on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the 21st of March. The word "Easter" is an Anglo-Saxon word from the Teutonic "Easter", an ancient German goddess of light. No, it hasn't got anything to do with the goddess as some would have us believe. The early Christians knew "Easter" as "Paschal" time. The Greek word "Pascha" was derived from the Hebrew word, "Pesach," meaning "Passover." The word "Easter" simply derives from the time of year Anglo Saxons observed the resurrection of Jesus. There have been other symbols used at Easter which have nothing to do with its religious aspect such as eggs, buns and bunnies. Most symbolize the commercial aspects of the feast now but they have been around as symbols of spring long before Christianity existed. They no longer symbolize devotion to the rite of springtime. Easter is at the heart of the Christian faith. It celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead after He had been crucified and buried in the tomb. The fact it comes at a time when our Canadian spring arrives with its rebirth may be coincidental but it is a symbol of resurrection. After all Christianity started as a seed in a small country in Asia Minor and has grown to encompass much of the world. So this weekend is a solemn and glorious time for Christians revering the crucifixion on Friday and celebrating the feast of the Resurrection on Sunday HAPPY EASTER. A vacuum, dishwasher and beer bottles were among the litter collected from the ditches on 25 Side Road, between Highway 25 and Dublin Line, as part of the Town's annual cleanup on Saturday. One volunteer said the amount of litter along that stretch of road was half of what it was last year. ­ Frances Niblock photo Genome studies lead to unexpected results genomes of groups carrying different diseases in the search for Science often focuses on a part stretches of DNA that might be of nature, isolating that part, then correlated with the conditions. By David Suzuki describing and probing it. This is This is referred to as genomecalled reductionism. Although to extract, analyze, and synthe- wide association, or GWA. the approach can provide power- size genetic material, or DNA, According to Jonathan Latham ful insights, it can also cause scientists embarked on an awe- and Allison Wilson of the Bioscientists to lose sight of the some quest to determine the science Resource Project, more context or surroundings, which exact sequence of all three bil- than 700 studies examining are intimately connected to the lion letters of the genetic code in over 80 different diseases have a human genome. When I gradu- all come up with similar results. part being studied. I spent almost four decades in ated with a PhD in genetics in Comparisons involving heart disone of the most reductionist of 1961, I never dreamed that we ease, cancer, stroke, autoimmune all sciences, genetics. This field would acquire such capabilities diseases, obesity, autism, Parof biology started gaining popu- within my lifetime, yet by 2001, kinson's disease, depression, larity in 1900, when the laws of the Human Genome Project was schizophrenia, and other comheredity determining the behav- complete. mon illnesses reveal that many Billions of dollars were spent genes may have a tiny influence iour of genes and chromosomes were discovered. The science to map the human genome be- but none can be considered the hasn't been without controversy. cause scientists hoped to find the major factor underlying the conIt has been used to argue the "na- genes responsible for diseases dition. ture" side in the "nature versus like cancer, heart disease, and This is a stunning revelation nurture" debate, and it has led stroke. This knowledge, they that some geneticists find diffisome to claim a genetic basis for thought, would allow them to cult to accept because it means everything from homosexuality, design specific drugs and maybe designer drugs and genetic ensocial class, and IQ to criminal- even find a way to replace de- gineering to target or replace a ity, mental illness, and a range fective genes. For decades, we genetic defect are not the anof diseases. With its focus on assumed that the Human Genome swers. Billions of dollars have genetic causes for illness, the Project would reveal a hereditary been and are being spent on science has also to some extent basis for most diseases, just as GWAs and the search for major absolved government, industry, they had been found for phenyl- genetic determinants of disease. and health professionals of their ketonuria, Huntington's chorea, It's time to accept the reality that responsibility to limit possible Duchenne muscular dystrophy, they won't be found and that we environmental and social con- sickle cell anemia, and cystic fi- must instead turn to the challenge brosis. tributors to disease. of addressing the more important Armed with the entire se- contributors to human disease: Still, it has been an exciting and promising field. With the quence of genes, scientists have malnutrition, lack of exercise, acquisition of immense powers also developed ways to compare and polluted air, water, and soil. By David Suzuki Science Matters Publisher Ted Tyler Editor Frances Niblock Distributed to every home in Acton and area, as well as adjoining communities. Every effort will be made to see advertising copy, neatly presented, is correctly printed. The publisher assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors or omissions in advertising, but will gladly reprint without charge that part of an advertisement in which an error may occur provided a claim is made within five days of publication. All articles, advertisements and graphic artwork appearing in The New Tanner is copyrighted. Any usage, reproduction or publication of these items, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the publisher of The New Tanner is a copyright infringement and subject to legal action. Editorial Contributors Mike O'Leary Angela Tyler Kelly Kennedy email: thenewtanner@on.aibn.com 373 Queen Street East, Unit 1 Acton, Ontario L7J 2N2 Advertising and Circulation Marie Shadbolt (519) 853-0051 Fax: (519) 853-0052 Composing Ken Baker