PEER, a website devoted to promoting environmental responsibility by public institutions, notes that three years after promising to review the literature on display at the Grand Canyon National Park after creationist literature was on offer, nothing has happened.
In fact, the National Park Service has refused to say anything about the age or formation of the canyon, due to pressure from Bush appointees. It seems geology cannot be allowed to interfere with the religious supporters of the Bush gang.
Hattip to John Pieret.
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Comments
This debacle is fast approaching the point where satirizing it will be impossible, as it will eventually be indistinguishable from the auto-satire they so consistently provide.
Posted by: Tyler DiPietro | December 29, 2006 03:25 AM
I was at the canyon last january and looked for the creationist book, but couldn't find it. Maybe it was sold out (a disconcerting thought). If I recall correctly, I did see a poster with geological time scales.
Posted by: jeffw | December 29, 2006 10:21 AM
I don't know why people are so willing to blame the Bush Administration for such follies. Oh, unless because of actions like this (the Administration wants to censor the US Geological Survey, also part of Interior).
Posted by: mark | December 29, 2006 10:39 AM
The NPS website for the Grand Canyon (http://www.nps.gov/grca/naturescience/naturalfeaturesandecosystems.htm) gives an age of at least 1.8 billion years. That ain't a creationist position, at least not a YEC position.
Posted by: CatMan | January 2, 2007 11:25 PM
Later information indicates that some are continuing as usual in the NPS (and I would expect existing pages and publications to be used anyway for a while). However, of the 22 publications that were considered in the past 3 years for inclusion for sale at NPS sites, only the creationist book was approved, I am told by back-channels.
Posted by: John Wilkins | January 2, 2007 11:34 PM
There are a lot of problems with this story. My investigation turned up a lot. Don't believe everything you read.
http://parkrangerx.blogspot.com/2007/01/dont-believe-everything-you-read.html
GRC sells books, not the NPS. GRC is a private, non-profit group. They also sell American Indian books with creation myths. The book in question is in the "inspirational" section. Most of PEER's claims are wildly unsubstantiated.
Posted by: Ranger X | January 3, 2007 04:17 PM
There are a lot of problems with this story. My investigation turned up a lot. Don't believe everything you read.
http://parkrangerx.blogspot.com/2007/01/dont-believe-everything-you-read.html
GRC sells books, not the NPS. GRC is a private, non-profit group. They also sell American Indian books with creation myths. The book in question is in the "inspirational" section. Most of PEER's claims are wildly unsubstantiated.
Posted by: Ranger X | January 3, 2007 04:24 PM