With the Kentucky general election a day away, the administration of Governor Ernie Fletcher wasted not time getting the Ten Commandments posted on state property in the wake of a judge's ruling allowing it as part of a display of donated "historical documents" that included the Magna Carta and the Kentucky Constitution. To the Governor the ruling must have truly seemed Heaven Sent. He was in a hard fought battle for re-election and in his State of the Commonwealth address in 2006, Fletcher contended that:
. . . under Kentucky law, teachers already have the freedom to teach "intelligent design" in the public schools. He was apparently referring to a portion (KRS 158.177 [PDF]) of Kentucky's Education Code authorizing teachers to teach "the theory of creation as presented in the Bible" and to "read such passages in the Bible as are deemed necessary for instruction on the theory of creation." (National Center for Science Education [NCSE])
The display, donated by the Rev. Herschel Walker, pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church, is valued at $170, so I guess these aren't the originals. The motive, of course, was not political but purely educational:
Walker said his motivation is more about teaching history to Kentucky children."This is a great teaching tool to teach something about the foundation of our law and the government," he said. (Louisville Courier-Journal)
Whether it was Divine Intervention or not, it seems the people of Kentucky were indeed delivered from evil:
Kentucky's incumbent governor Ernie Fletcher (R) was soundly defeated in the November 6, 2007, election, by Steve Beshear (D), a former lieutenant governor of the state, who took 59% of the vote. A Baptist minister, Fletcher was perhaps the most outspoken supporter of creationism to serve as a governor anywhere in the country in recent years. He expressed disappointment about the verdict in Kitzmiller v. Dover, for example, saying that local school districts ought to be able to teach "intelligent design" if they wish (Cincinnati Enquirer, December 25, 2005). (National Center for Science Education [NCSE])
The United States undergoes periodic religious revivals. We have just suffered through one and it looks to be waning. Each time religion comes back into American public life it is less virulent than the previous time, a damped periodic function. Damped or not, this one was tough to live through but I think we made it.
I think.
Politics
Comments
Don't count your boobies before they are hatched.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/us/nationalspecial/21louisiana.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
The Governor-elect of Louisiana, is "the Brown- and Oxford-educated Mr. (Bobby) Jindal, an unabashed policy wonk who has produced a stream of multipoint plans..."
The Times noted:
"A born-again Roman Catholic, Mr. Jindal made a particular campaign target of these areas, visiting them frequently and bringing his brand of devout Christianity to their rural churches. His social-conservative message — teaching “intelligent design” as an alternative to evolution in public schools, a total ban on abortion, repealing hate-crimes laws — would have been welcome in these areas."
My problem is Brown and Oxford, shame on them. It's not surprising that such upper class institutions would harbor conservatives who oppose a woman's right to chose, or a vulnerable population's right to be free of terror. But "intelligent design?" Is the Brown faculty "teaching the controversy," are they just weak, or did Brown's lack of general education requirements enable Jindal to escape all science?
Posted by: Frank Mirer | November 11, 2007 9:27 AM
Which of the many Ten Commandment versions got posted? The Protestant, Catholic or Jewish version? The Exodus or Deuteronomy version?
Posted by: Ex-drone | November 11, 2007 9:36 AM
Yeah, Jindal is a kook. Who is now a Governor. *sigh*
Posted by: Stogoe | November 11, 2007 9:39 AM
In my home state, Illinois, the legislature passed a bill that requires that each class, in all public schools, begin the day with a mandated "moment of silence." The Governor vetoed the bill, and the legislature subsequently overrode the veto. The law is being challenged, of course; but for the present time, the judge who is reviewing the matter has declined a request to temporarily halt the practice until the constitutionality issue is resolved.
I went back home to visit, late last spring, and while driving through a neighborhood I once lived in (this was along a main thoroughfare, in a city of roughly 45,000 people), I happened to pass a large billboard that had been erected in a small lot adjacent to the street. It was very obtrusive, and strikingly offensive (and clearly placed there by a professional, licensed service); in very large white letters, on a black background, were these words: "God is Watching You!" No attribution. No church claiming responsibility. Nobody who wanted to be clearly identified as promoting this sentiment. Just a simple, stark statement of religiously infused, and twisted, fundamentalist spiritual terrorism.
Posted by: Dylan | November 11, 2007 10:23 AM
LOL. Herschel Walker shoulda stuck with football.
"An exhibit that includes the Ten Commandments that Gov. Ernie Fletcher ordered to be displayed in the Kentucky Capitol includes some historical inaccuracies.
The Star Spangled Banner, according to one framed account, was a rallying cry more than 30 years before it was written. And, according to another, the U.S. motto, "In God We Trust," was adopted on two separate days in July 1956."
From http://www.kentucky.com/454/story/224736.html
(I know, I know - he's not THAT Herschel Walker.)
Posted by: Art | November 11, 2007 11:33 AM
When the economy crashes and we enter deep recession or depression, religion may flourish. On the other hand if folks who thank God for the middle class homes, loose them, well they just may blame God. But on the whole I think religion is due for a rise, and it will be a nasty angry religion that takes out the woes of a failed economic system on gays, muslims, adulteresses, adulterers, heretics, etc.
Posted by: K | November 13, 2007 7:01 AM