Dear thinkabit,

Of course you are right. Darwin is not the be-all and end-all nor is natural selection the only mechanism for evolution. One important mechanism for evolution is symbiosis. The eukaryote cell of which we mammals are composed is formed from the union of various prokaryote cells which apparently lived in symbiotic relationships before forming permanent unions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbiogenesis tells about it.

Lichens are also an example of a symbiotic relationship which became permanent.

https://www.anbg.gov.au/lichen/what-is-lichen.html tells about it.

The wonder of nature is so great that we need not imagine gods to realise its grandeur.

To use the word, flawed, to describe Darwinian theory is flawed. The word, incomplete would be better. Darwin made no assertions he had no proof to support. It is amazing to me that he did all he did without a knowledge of a mechanism of inheritance. Mendel discovered the rules of genetic heredity, but Darwin did not know of Mendel's work.

Dear david f,

I'm all for a Darwin Day but where will it stop? What next: Einstein Day? Karl Marx Day? Steven Spielberg Day? ad infinitum. After all, there are only 365 days in a year.

Dear Mr Opinion,

Where will it stop? If one thinks that Karl Marx and Steven Spielberg are equivalent to Darwin it won't stop. I think one might make a good case for an Einstein and a Newton day. Those three tower over all other scientists. We have a Queen's Birthday which is not on the actual birthday of the queen. Her eminence resides only in the fact of her birth rather than in any accomplishment. If we need to get rid of holidays to accommodate a Darwin Day I would get rid of Queen's Birthday, Anzac Day, Easter and Christmas as official holidays. Anzac Day commemorates a military cockup, and those who wish to celebrate the religious days of Easter and Christmas can still do so in religious ceremonies invested with the solemnity of their belief.

Dear david f,

Getting rid of the Queen from the national calendar sounds a bit heartless. How about we replace her birthday holiday with Tony Abbott Day. Anyone for a $40K Rolex?

As Mr Opinion points out there are plenty of people who have changed the world, whether scientists or not. So perhaps instead of a "Darwin Day" we could have a "Celebrate Science Holiday". This would collectively recognize the impact that maths/science/engineering/technology has had on humanity. After all, the changes due (directly or indirectly) to maths and science have arguably had a greater impact on more people than any other man made cause.

Now that I'm musing about it: we could rename the other holidays to represent the overall impact of other various fields on mankind and Australian society: such as Easter Friday->"The Holiday for Religion", "Queens Birthday"->"Holiday for Politics and Structured Society", etc (ANZAC day, would still be essentially the same-- a holiday to remember those who served)
Additionally, if you were to do this and fundamentally change the names/reasons for holidays might as well space out the holidays more evenly throughout the year-- say holidays at roughly the first day of every second month, with an extra day (four day weekend) at 1/2 year and End of year.