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The 2001 discovery of the seven million-year-old Sahelanthropus, the first known upright ape-like creatures, was yet more proof of humanitys place among the great apes. And yet Mike Pence, then a representative and now U.S. vice president, argues for the opposite conclusion.

For him, our ideas about our ancestors have changed, proving once more that evolution was a theory, and therefore we should be free to teach other theories alongside evolution in our classrooms.

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U.S. Vice President Mike Pence speaks during an event celebrating National Military Appreciation Month and National Military Spouse Appreciation Day at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., May 9. Joshua Roberts/File Photo/Reuters

How to respond? The usual answer is that we should teach students the meaning of the word theory as used in sciencethat is, a hypothesis (or idea) that has stood up to repeated testing. Pences argument will then be exposed to be what philosophers call an equivocation an argument that only seems to make sense because the same word is being used in two different senses.

Evolution, Pence argues, is a theory, theories are uncertain, therefore evolution is uncertain. But evolution is a theory only in the scientific sense of the word. And in the words of the National Academy of Sciences:The formal scientific definition of theory is quite different from the everyday meaning of the word. It refers to a comprehensive explanation of some aspect of nature that is supported by a vast body of evidence. Attaching this label to evolution is an indicator of strength, not weakness.

If you take this approach, you have failed to understand the purpose of Pences rhetoric, or why it is so appealing to creationists. Pence is an accomplished politician, and knows exactly how to appeal to his intended audience. He is also an accomplished trial lawyer, which makes him a conjuror with words, and like any skilful conjuror he has pulled off his trick by distraction. Pence has drawn us into a discussion about words, when our focus should be on the evidence.

I would suggest the opposite approach. The problem is not really with the word theory at all. Students will have learned its meaning in the same way they learn meanings in general: by seeing how the word is used.

Charles Darwin J. Cameron/CC

They will have heard of atomic theory, which no one has seriously doubted for over a century. And what about the theory of gravity? Finally, they may have seen how Darwin himself uses the expression my theory,"although at the time it was neither comprehensive nor well supported (there were huge gaps in the fossil record), to refer in a very general way to his linked ideas about mutability of species, common descent, and the power of natural selection.

So if anyone says, Evolution is a theory," dont give them a lecture on the meaning of the word theory."If you do, youve fallen into the trap of making it seem that how we define words should affect how we see reality. You will be fighting on ground of your opponents choosing, since arguing about how to apply words is the stock in trade of theologians, preachers and lawyers like Mike Pence.

The correct response is to say that evolution is a theorylike gravity is a theoryand then redirect attention to the evidence. And that evidence is overwhelming.

Start with family relationships. Carl Linnaeus showed how living things can be classified into species, genera, families and so on, and Darwin pointed out that this is exactly the structure we would expect from a family tree. All dogs are canines, so dogs share an ancestor with foxes; all canines are carnivora, so dogs share a more remote ancestor with bears; all carnivora are mammals, so dogs and sheep are, albeit more remotely, related, and so on.

Then look at the discovery over the past few decades of family relationships at the molecular level, and the fact that the molecular family tree matches that based on anatomical resemblances.

Observe the fossil record. Once lamentably full of gaps (Darwin was among the lamenters), it is now densely populated. A century ago, it still made sense to point to the missing link between humans and pre-human apes. Now we know of several different hominin species living alongside each other, and the problem becomes one of distinguishing our grandparents from our great uncles. And yes, there are missing links in the chain, but without evolution we would not have a chain at all.

A display of a series of skeltons showing the evolution of humans at the Peabody Museum, New Haven, Connecticut, circa 1935. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

And then theres biogeography: for example, why marsupials are only found in South America and Australasia, and except for a few species that made their way across the Isthmus of Panama, are never found elsewhere.

Plus we can actually observe evolution, and study it in the field or in the lab. The emergence of pesticide resistance is evolution in action, as shown in the justly famous Harvard/Technion demonstration evolution on a plate." So is the delightful Russian experiment of breeding tame foxes. Artificial selection, just as much as natural selection, is evolution in action.

And finally, and most convincingly, we must look at the way that these different lines of evidence mesh together. We can apply biogeography to the fossil record, and link it to what we know about the movements of the continents. Using the methods of molecular biology, we can identify and time the mutations that led different species to diverge from their common ancestor, and match the timing against the fossil record.

Sperm whale. Whales are related to hoofed animals. Hiroya Minakuchi/Minden/National Geographic Creative

Thus the fossil record, deep anatomical resemblances, and DNA evidence agree in showing that whales, for instance, are closely related to hoofed mammals, diverging from them in the Eocene period. There are many other examples of such consistency.

Then, and only then, pause to explain how a scientific theory is an interlocking connection of ideas that explain things about the world, and that evolution is one of the most successful examples. And challenge the Mike Pences of this world to spell out exactly what they would like to see taught alongside the Theory of Evolutionand why.

Paul Bratermanis Hon. Research Fellow; Professor Emeritus atUniversity of Glasgow

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How to Slam Dunk Creationists like Mike Pence When It Comes to the Theory of Evolution - Newsweek

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence pledged support Tuesday for the former Soviet republic of Georgia, his second stop on a European trip backing nations that feel threatened by Russian aggression.

Russia and Georgia fought a brief war in 2008, which lead to two breakaway Georgian regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, declaring independence. Russia has since been supporting the regions both financially and militarily.

The U.S. "strongly condemns Russia's occupation on Georgian soil," Pence said Tuesday at a joint news conference with the Georgian prime minister in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital. "We will reject any claim at any time by any nation that undermines this enduring principle."

The visit comes a day after Pence met with the presidents of three NATO countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the Estonian capital of Tallinn and pledged that "an attack on one of us is an attack on us all."

Georgia and the three Baltic nations were all occupied for nearly five decades by Soviet troops before regaining their independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Later on Tuesday Pence will inspect troops taking part in joint U.S.-Georgian military exercises.

Pence's European trip comes several days after the U.S. Senate voted last week to approve the new financial sanctions against Moscow. The legislation bars U.S. President Donald Trump from easing or waiving the penalties on Russia unless Congress agrees.

Pence told reporters on Tuesday that Trump would sign a bill on a new package of U.S. sanctions against Russia, adding the package was "improved significantly."

The bill underwent revisions to address concerns voiced by American oil and natural gas companies that sanctions specific to Russia's energy sector could backfire on them to Moscow's benefit. U.S. lawmakers said they also made adjustments so the sanctions on Russia's energy sector didn't undercut the ability of U.S. allies in Europe to get access to oil and gas resources outside of Russia.

Russia on Friday ordered the U.S. Embassy and three U.S. consulates in Russia to drastically cut its personnel there. President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that means 755 staffers have to go. Russia also ordered to shut down the U.S. Embassy's recreational compound on the outskirts of Moscow. The Russian leader warned that he has more tricks up his sleeve to hurt the U.S., but he voiced hope that he wouldn't need to use them.

Pence indicated the U.S. was willing to improve ties with Russia but for that to happen "Russia has to change its behavior," he said, referring to Russia's support for separatists in eastern Ukraine and for Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Russia is planning Zapad 2017 military exercises with 13,000 troops near the Baltic states' borders in September, a move that may further strain relations.

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Pence pledges support for Georgia, condemns Russian moves - ABC News

Vice President Mike Pence said Wednesday that the future of Europe's Balkan nations is with the West, reaffirming Washington's commitment to the region as Russia works to assert its historical influence there.

Pence spoke in Montenegro, his third and final stop in a European trip that saw him voicing support for nations pressured by Russia and highlighting U.S. allegiance to its allies overseas. He is the highest-ranking American official to visit the small Adriatic state in 100 years.

"We truly believe the future of the Western Balkans is in the West," Pence said in Podgorica, Montenegro's capital.

The Western Balkans refers to countries in the former Yugoslavia that aspire to or have already joined Western institutions, including the European Union and NATO. It also includes Albania.

Montenegro joined NATO in June, a move that angered Moscow. Russia had considered the country of 620,000 people, with an army of some 2,000 soldiers, its traditional Slavic ally.

Pence, who attended a summit of Balkan leaders Wednesday, praised Montenegro for standing up to Russian pressure. Its accession to NATO, Pence said, is "a sign of the strength of this country 10 years after independence."

"I bring greetings from President Donald Trump, who sent me here as a visible sign of the alliance that we now enjoy through NATO," the vice president said.

Russia is accused of masterminding an attempted coup in Montenegro in October to prevent it from joining NATO. Moscow has denied the allegations.

In his address to the Balkan leaders, on Wednesday, Pence called Russia an "unpredictable country" that wants to destabilize the region.

"As you well know, Russia continues to seek to redraw international borders by force and here in the Western Balkans, Russia has worked to destabilize the region, undermining your democracies and divide you from each other and from the rest of Europe," he said.

"The Western Balkans have the right to decide your own future, and that is your right alone," Pence said.

The Balkan states that are pro-West had feared Trump who once called NATO an obsolete organization would leave them to the Russian sphere of influence. Pence's trip appeared intended to alleviate those fears amid the investigations in Washington into Russia's efforts to interfere in last year' presidential election.

"NATO is made up of large countries and small countries, but the U.S. has no small allies and we cherish our new alliance with Montenegro through NATO," Pence said.

During a formal dinner with Montenegro President Filip Vujanovic on Tuesday evening, Pence said Montenegro's "courage, particularly in the face of Russian pressure, inspires the world and I commend you for that."

Serbia is Russia's only remaining ally in the Balkans, although Belgrade formally says it wants to join the European Union. Serbia has been beefing up military ties with Moscow, while also maintaining a partnership relationship with NATO.

Earlier in his tour, Pence pledged support for the former Soviet republic of Georgia and met with the presidents of three NATO countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in Estonia, where he said that "an attack on one of us is an attack on us all."

Georgia and the three Baltic nations were all occupied for nearly five decades by Soviet troops before regaining their independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

AP Writers Jovana Gec and Dusan Stojanovic contributed from Belgrade, Serbia.

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Vice President Pence says future of Balkans is 'in the West' - ABC News

President Donald Trump.

WASHINGTON President Trump will soon sign a law limiting his ability to lift sanctions against Russia, even though he has concerns about the measure, Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday.

The announcement during a visit to Tbilisi, Georgia, comes as no surprise, because the Trump administration had signaled it would not stand in the laws way. But it nonetheless carries significance: It is the first time that Congress, with both houses controlled by Trumps fellow Republicans, has imposed its will on the administration on a major policy matter, and the legislation has helped bring relations between Russia and the United States to one of its lowest points since the Cold War.

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At least in terms of diplomatic policy, the bet Russia might have made when, according to US intelligence agencies, it interfered in last years presidential election, has backfired in spectacular fashion. The legislation was revised, however, to address concerns by US oil and natural gas companies that do business with Russias energy sector.

Though he was asked by a reporter about the election interference, Pence did not explicitly address it, reiterating instead the administrations concerns about Russias destabilizing activities, including efforts to support rogue regimes.

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Trump will sign Russia sanctions law 'very soon,' Pence says - The Boston Globe

In a sea of 750 U.S. and Georgian troops at an airport in Tbilisi, the capital of the former Soviet republic of Georgia, stood Attleboro resident Pfc. Tom Copithorne, 21, tall and proud as he watched history unfold before him.

On Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence spoke to U.S. and Georgian troops about how the United States will continue to support and protect Georgia against the Russian regime.

America first does not mean America only, the vice president told them. We are here to tell our friends in Georgia, we are with you. We stand with you and will stand with you as you pursue membership in NATO.

Copithorne, a 2014 Attleboro High School grad who joined the Army right out of high school, is one of the many soldiers taking part in a joint military exercise called Nobel Partner aimed to help Georgia get up to NATOs standards.

The goal, U.S. Army officials say, is to support the training, evaluation and eventual certification of Georgias second light infantry company contribution to the NATO Response Force.

Georgia is not a NATO member but voluntarily offers troops to the force.

Being a part of an exercise aimed to protect and unite Americas allies is something Copithorne said hes grateful to have been a part of.

And as Copithorne and his fellow U.S. troops stood in solidarity with the Georgian troops he realized he was a part of something far greater than himself.

After listening to Pence and Giorgi Margvelashvili, the president of Georgia speak, Copithorne was in for a surprise and was greeted by Pence for a hand shake and photo-op.

Copithorne later posted the shot to multiple social media sites with the caption, Its not everyday you get to meet Vice President Pence #usaarmy #USA #Georgia #OperationNoblePartner.

Its an honor to serve this country, Copithorne said. This was a very proud moment for me.

Abigail DesVergnes can be reached at 508-236-0340.

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Mike Pence Attleboro - The Sun Chronicle