Bill Foster's Letter

By now you all know about Bill Foster, an outgoing council member in St. Petersburg, Florida, who has very strong creationist leanings. Foster had written a widely cited letter linking Hitler and the Columbine shooters to Darwinism. I thought it would be fair to have the ENTIRE letter written by foster available, rather than allowing this quote mining to go unanswered!

This is a transcription of a PDF file available at the St. Petersburg Times.

The Honorable Nancy N. Bortock, Chairman
All Pinellas County School Boared Members
P.O. Box 2942
Largo, Florida 33779-2942

Re: Evolution

Greetings:

Thank you for your thoughtful discussion about the possibility of allowing presentations of alternative theories of creation in the Pinellas County Schools. I am a 1981 graduate of Northeast High School, and can still remember the scientific teaching of Darwin in class, wherein my teacher stated "There is really no scientific evidence to support this theory, but if you want to believe that you descended from monkeys, then feel free to do so". We were, at that time, allowed to discuss alternative theories of creation, and then allowed to make up our own minds. Nothing was presented as scientific fact, and freedom of speech was quite the norm. Discussions about other theories (ie, creation by a God or supreme being) were not quashed, but encouraged so that the well rounded student could make an informed choice. This is what has been lacking in our schools today, and the time has come to change that school of thought.

Whether a belief in the Genesis account of creation, or Darwin's "Origin of Species", both require a certain amount of faith. My favorite definition of "faith" happens to come from the Bible, but is consistent with secular meanings: Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. So true, as any belief in Darwin's theory of evolution requires a great deal of faith; faith in the reliability of the science, and faith in the explanations as to the significant gaps and flaws in the science. The scientific arguments for this Darwinistic religion are unsupported, and yet you allow it to be taught as absolute fact to the exclusion of other theories or debate. You say that creationism should be taught in the Churches and Synagogues, and I agree. However, you teach the antitheses of intelligent design as absolute scientific fact in the very schools which I support, with no room for argument or other theories, and this only serves to confuse and undermine the education of our children.

Evolution gives our kids an excuse to believe in natural selection and survival of the fittest, which leads to a belief that they are superior over the weak. This is a slippery slope. One of the Columbine shooters wrote on his website, "You know what I love? Natural Selection! It's the best thing that ever happened to the Earth. Getting rid of all the stupid and weak organisms." This sick young man wore a T-shirt with the words "Natural Selection" at the time of the murders, and carried out his killing spree on the birth date of Adolph Hitler. All of this took place at the very school where he was taught evolution and Darwin's theory of natural selection.

Darwin's theory led to the idea of "Eugenics", where social engineers could monitor and manage choices to marry and have children. Darwin's own cousin coined the term and campaigned for using human genetics as a means to breed a superior breed of humanity. Many people in American history and abroad adopted this belief, and 33 states created legal programs of forced sterilization to prevent the "feeble-minded" and "human weeds" from reproducing. This social engineering is at the core of Darwinism - just in fast forward.

Many Darwinists believe that nature or natural selection could use a little help from man, and through social engineering, we can produce a highly gifted race of people. By force, we can accomplish what nature does blindly and slowly. Man can engineer this process more efficiently and timely, and must direct its own course. If this sounds familiar, this was the basis for Nazism. Darwin devalues man, and I believe helped to eliminate a moral compass in Europe that could have prevented the atrocities of the holocaust.

Adolph Hitler duped an entire generation using Darwin's evolution. He sought to preserve the "favored" race in the struggle for survival. First, he would eliminate those he deemed weak and impure so as to protect his race (disabled, ill, deformed, deaf, blind, Jews, Gypsies). Second, he sought to expand Germany's borders in order to make room for the expansion of the favored race. Elimination of useless eaters - this is how the fittest survive. We all know how that turned out. Ultimately, some 11 million people, possible more, were exterminated, all in the attempt to speed up evolution.

To be certain, racism is not a scientific theory, but it is a large part of evolution, and if allowed to go unchecked, we may be damned to repeat history. There is a place to discuss micro-evolution, in that people and species have adapted over time to their environment and circumstances. I choose to believe that this, too, is of God, but it is evolution none the less. When scientists look at the intricacies of cell structures, or the wonders of the human body, male and female, they simply cannot make a case that all of this occurred by happenstance or natural selection. Why not simply embrace the opportunity for a discussion that there may be some intelligent design to this process? Throw in the case that there is still no fossil record or evidence to support Darwin, and all you have left is a theory. If evolution were true, then there should be countless numbers of transitional forms (e.g., 100% reptile; 75% reptile-25% bird; 50% reptile- 50% bird; 25% reptile - 75% bird; 100% bird and many transitional forms between each of those). Our science labs and museums are loaded with fossils, and yet, none support Mr. Darwin.

None of Darwin's theories can be replicated or proven in a laboratory, and yet, by blind faith, many still believe in evolution. The Religion of Darwin is the only one accepted in the public school, and the time has come to change that fact. Some people think that I am misguided to believe in the Genesis account of creation. I happen to share a similar view about people who believe that all species evolved or morphed from a single cell. The beautiful thing about this country is that we all have a right to believe in whatever we choose. I may disagree with your science fiction, and you may disagree with my Bible, but we should be free to discuss each others theories, and none should be excluded form the dialogue Such discourse is not a violation of the Constitution, but rather is encouraged by the First Amendment.

Please consider allowing some discussion of alternative theories in the Pinellas County classroom. As any theory, one needs to investigate, discuss, and arrive at a conclusion based upon faith. I have no faith in Darwin, but do have an extreme amount of faith in each of you to do what is right for our kids. Kindly consider this, and if you have any question or desire to discuss this matter further, then please feel free to call me.

Very truly yours,

Bill Foster
Concerned parent of SPHS student

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The science edicayashen he gotted in hi sckool speeks volyumes abowt tha valyu of ackademmic freedum in science.

Go, Mr. Foster! Go! Lay it on tha evalhooshonists!

Professor Laden, you should invite him to the U to show him the fossils of the australopithicenes. Also, what does what Hitler did with evolution have to do with whether evolution is real? Did Neitche not exist because his ideas were also twisted to support the nazis?

By Chris Hanson (not verified) on 13 Jan 2008 #permalink

Sigh. It is amazing the lack of knowledge this guy has. It is astounding that one can make claims as if they were fact (eg There are no transitional fossils) merely because he has never studied the evidence! What chupsta! What ignorance!

Sad, very sad.

Good point about Hitler.

Since Hitler was a politician should we get rid of all politicians? Since Hitler was German does that make all Germans evil or just the male Germans?

"Since Hitler was a politician should we get rid of all politicians?"

Yes.

We should probably stop teaching students about parasitism and predation as well. Wouldn't want them getting the wrong idea.

Stupid naturalistic fallacy.

Ughhh...lets see about the logic here...

Crazy person thinks Evol is a good reason to kill people (regardless of the fact that the hitler stuff if bunk). Therefore Evol is bad. Thus we should not teach evolution.

Lets see I have a new one:

Crazy person thinks gravity is a good reason to kill people. Therefore gravity is bad. Thus, we shouldn't talk about gravity.

The logic with this crap really does boggle the mind. If these types of arguments really work on people we'll soon be teaching about Barney and Fred and their pet Dino.

Hitler, of course, was a Christian. Where do you think he learnt his anti-semitism? And what of Germany? Catholics.

What gets me about people like him, they always purposely misuse "theory" when talking to the general public.
maybe someone could show this clown archaeopteryx. or Ambulocetus. or Basilosaurus.
What a liar.

I would want to verify with the science teacher he had in high school. It would be very funny indeed if his science teacher came forward and denied his 'descended from monkeys' quote.

By imOKhesFL (not verified) on 13 Jan 2008 #permalink

Note to Bill Foster - you're a dope.

By bob keskulami (not verified) on 14 Jan 2008 #permalink

Hitler was also explicit, not just in Mein Kampf but in many of his speeches, about the fact that he was doing God's work and was making Germany into a Godly, pure nation. Implication clear, I think.

http://www.nobeliefs.com/Hitler1.htm

By Luna_the_cat (not verified) on 14 Jan 2008 #permalink

Ah, argumentum ad hitlerum. Truly the most amusing of the logical fallacies.

Whereas, heretofore, and theretofore the Honorable Bill Foster, Concerned parent of SPHS student, has displayed in such a direct and uncompromising way his complete stupidity, as well as ignorance and confusion; Whereas, heretofore, and theretofore the Honorable Bill Foster, Concerned parent of SPHS student, has in single-handed fashion managed to lower significantly the average IQ of a FL locality, I hereby by the power invested in me by mighty Odin and by the grace of Thor anoint said Honorable Bill Foster the Dumb-Fuck Award for now and forever.

By ConcernedJoe (not verified) on 14 Jan 2008 #permalink

The fact that he expects to see transitional fossils that are 75% reptile and 25% bird shows that he really doesn't understand what he's talking about. Reptiles and birds have a common ancestor. One did not turn into the other.

How much beer do I have to drink before I, too, am invested by Odin and Thor with the power of awarding 'the Dumb-Fuck Award'?

I finally get what the creos mean when they say "there are no transitional forms". It's soooo stupid I never thought of it. They think we should have fossils that are 25% reptile/75% bird, etc. They are picturing, in their little brains, an iguana with fully formed bird's wings. Or perhaps an animal that is half goat, half man.