Most days, Google puts up a fun and informative illustration on its homepage celebrating a notable event, covering pretty much everything from Egyptian singer Asmahan’s 103rd birthday to Thanksgiving.
On the November 24, they celebrated the 41st anniversary of “Lucy’s” discovery, a hugely important milestone in our understanding of human evolution.
In 1974, scientists discovered remains of a hominid species called Australopithecus afarensis in Ethiopia which they named after the Beatles song Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds. The characteristics of the specimen's bone structure, particularly its pelvic bone, helped scientists understand how humans evolved to walk upright. And with a small skull, she showed scientists that bipedalism preceded an increase in brain size, the order of which was contentious for our evolutionary history.
However, a surprising number of people weren’t too pleased that Google was “glorifying” evolution and the idea that “we are monkeys,” along with a load of other misconceptions about evolution. Creationists, evolution-skeptics and, no doubt, some sarcastic trolls, hammered their keyboards to express their disdain – some even threatening to boycott the tech giant.
Pushing your beliefs on others are you Google? Isn't that what you godless folks object to about Christians?
— Jim Jensen (@jimjljensen) November 24, 2015
@google 1st generation should be from Adam and Eve . Not bullshit monkey .
— brother wan (@mrherwan) November 25, 2015
So today Google is glorifying the LIE that is evolution with a cartoon showing a monkey changing into a human.... https://t.co/pcmJmvq3vL
— Jodie Sellers (@Jodie2say) November 24, 2015
Google, im not a monkey!
— Little Toe (@syhrad) November 24, 2015
