I have never been to Heaven, but Ive been to Oklahoma.

Posted by ERV on March 5, 2009
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People dont understand why I love Oklahoma so much.

This is why.

Evidently Todd Thomsen, some Oklahoma legislator dude (Republican) has written an ‘official’ resolution denouncing Richard Dawkins.

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representative strongly opposes the invitation to speak on the campus of the University of Oklahoma to Richard Dawkins of Oxford University, whose published statements on the theory of evolution and opinion about those who do not believe in the theory are contrary and offensive to the views and opinions of most citizens of Oklahoma.
THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives encourages the University of Oklahoma to engage in an open, dignified, and fair discussion of the Darwinian theory of evolution and all other scientific theories which is the approach that a public institution should be engaged in and which represents the desire and interest of the citizens of Oklahoma.

Why Mr. Thomsen! It almost sounds as if youve been having little chit-chats with Dr. Egnor!

Well, if this ‘resolution’ is an invitation, Mr. Thomsen, Id be happy to discuss ‘Darwinian theory of evolution’ with you, at your leisure. I live about three blocks from the Capital. Wouldnt be a problem at all.

I look forward to hearing from you!

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Comments

  1. #1 Tommykey
    March 5, 2009

    Of course, if Sally Kern of Oklahoma was invited to speak at a school or other public forum in San Francisco and a SF City Council member had a resolution condemning her, you know all the wingnuts would be decrying the resolution as being intolerant.

  2. #2 george.w
    March 5, 2009

    Dignified? If that’s what they want, Dawkins is what they want. He’s one of the most dignified public figures out there. I’m referencing his conversation with Ted Haggard; I’d have popped the SOB in the mouth.

    People who say Dawkins is ‘strident’ or ‘rude’ seem not to have read any of his books.

  3. #3 pdiff
    March 5, 2009

    If Sally Kern was widely acclaimed for her expertise in evolution, biology, or science in general, and was being banned from speaking on it (no matter what her point of view), yeah, I think their would be objections. But alas, she’s not any of the above. She’s just another fuckwit mouthpiece for Jesus.

    Really, Tommy, have any atheists, rationalists, or normal people you know of tried to get a governmental body to ban a DI speaker. We may criticize, rail against and oppose, but ban? I don’t think so. And before you go all “Ben Stein” on us, that ‘tard withdrew after public outcry.

    Pdiff

  4. #4 Stacy
    March 5, 2009

    Why is everyone going to OK all of a sudden??

  5. #5 steve
    March 5, 2009

    (Proud to be an Okie from Muskogee)

    “Leather boots are still in style for manly footwear
    Beads and Roman sandals won’t be seen
    Football’s still the roughest thing on campus
    And the kids here still respect the college dean”

    I guess Rep. Thomsen never listened to Merle Haggard closely enough – well, that last line anyway :)

    I wonder if Rep Thomsen has “manly footwear”..

  6. #6 Tommykey
    March 5, 2009

    Pdiff, I get the feeling you didn’t get my point. Thomsen tries to justify his resolution by claiming that Dawkins public statements are offensive to the beliefs of the people of Oklahoma. In my hypothetical Sally Kern analogy, the wingnuts would cry hypocrisy if pro-gay rights legislators in San Francisco condemned her speaking on the topic of homosexuality in San Francisco where her opinion is offensive to gays. Of course, they would be wrong. Dawkins is merely criticizing how religious dogma threatens science education, whereas Kern attacks people just because they are gay, regardless of who they are or what they do. I apologize if I wasn’t clear earlier.

  7. #7 druidbros
    March 6, 2009

    It makes me wonder what is in the water in OK. It seems there are more religious wingnuts per capita than usual.

  8. #8 waldteufel
    March 6, 2009

    This Thomsen clown looks like he’d have a hard time walking and chewing gum at the same time.

    Dumb as a bag of hammers would seem to be an appropriate appellation for this bugwit.

  9. #9 Pdiff
    March 6, 2009

    “Pdiff, I get the feeling you didn’t get my point.”

    Well, aint that the shit! Yep, guilty as charged. Bad day, pissed off, quick read and shooting before looking. I humbly submit my apologies.

    Pdiff

  10. #10 Brian
    March 6, 2009

    Whiskey.
    Tango.
    Foxtrot.

  11. #11 CulturalIconography
    March 6, 2009

    I don’t know much about OK politics or politicos, but it has been my experience that some of the loudest right-wing populist politicos just about anywhere tend to have the IQ of peat moss.

    I’m guessing that he wouldn’t be any sort of a challenge for you, ERV. But then again, I’d love to see you take him apart. Sadly, my plans don’t take me anywhere near OK for the forseeable future. So, I will cheer you on from afar. Go get ‘em!

  12. #12 anevilmeme
    March 6, 2009

    1 The 2 paragraphs of the resolution contradict each other.

    2 They can’t get over Dover can they?

  13. #13 EyeNoU
    March 6, 2009

    In Oklahoma? Not Arizona? What does it matter? What does it matter?

    Sorry, couldn’t resist…….

  14. #14 nate
    March 6, 2009

    O.Y.G!!!!

    Please let him know that he is shameful.

    todd.thomsen(at)okhouse.gov

    Here are his State Committees:
    Higher Education and Career Technology, Chair!!!!!!
    International Relations and Tourism, Member
    Public Safety, Member
    Subcommittee on Education, Member!!!!!!!

  15. #15 dNorrisM
    March 6, 2009

    Watch it ERV. They’ll subpoena you and squeeze you in the vice until you tell The Truth, or else:

    Todd Thomsen: “Miss Smith, I hold you in contempt of Congress.” Gavel bangs.
    ERV: “You can say that again.”

  16. #16 Mobius
    March 6, 2009

    Oh, Jeez.

    Well, I can’t say I’m surprised that some nincompoop in the OK legislature came up with this stupid statement.

  17. #17 Lou FCD
    March 6, 2009

    Oh, I’m pretty sure Mr. Thomsen doesn’t want any part of a discussion with Abbie. If he grows a pair though, let us know.

  18. #18 Siamang
    March 6, 2009

    Oh MAN, why am I suddenly very afraid for Mr. Thomsen? I SOOOOOO want to see Abbie show up at his office.

    I want to see you do to him what you did to Dembski, Behe et al.

  19. #19 freelunch
    March 6, 2009

    Legislators don’t need to actually learn anything about their bills. They’re just magically omni<something>.

  20. #20 Tommykey
    March 6, 2009

    Well, aint that the shit! Yep, guilty as charged. Bad day, pissed off, quick read and shooting before looking. I humbly submit my apologies.

    No problem Pdiff, we’re almost all guilty of it at one time or another.

  21. #21 Pierce R. Butler
    March 6, 2009

    Wait till Thomsen is told that Richard Dawkins is a lezbian!!1!

  22. #22 Tommykey
    March 6, 2009

    I don’t know about that Pierce, but I think he did pork Mrs. Garrison up the ass a couple of times.

  23. #23 blf
    March 7, 2009

    Why is everyone going to OK all of a sudden??

    Because it’s not TX?

    Even so, both places seem to be trying to find, experimentally, the stupidity event horizon. This is the point rationality cannot penetrate. It attracts teh stoopid in ever increasing amounts. Theory predicts that as teh stoopids spiral from view towards the horizon there will be a noise sounding like “praise the lard”.