The other day, I posted about the smear campaign in Alabama against Bradley Byrne, which tried to impugn the man by saying, "Byrne supported teaching evolution…said the Bible was only partially true". Byrne won a speck of sympathy from me, despite the fact that he's a Republican, for at least standing up for the evidence.
That sympathy is gone now. Byrne has come back with a rebuttal.
• I believe the Bible is the Word of God and that every single word of it is true. From the earliest parts of this campaign, a paraphrased and incomplete parsing of my words have been knowingly used to insinuate that I believe something different than that. My faith is at the center of my life and my belief in Jesus Christ as my personal savior and Lord guides my every action.
• As a Christian and as a public servant, I have never wavered in my belief that this world and everything in it is a masterpiece created by the hands of God. As a member of the Alabama Board of Education, the record clearly shows that I fought to ensure the teaching of creationism in our school text books. Those who attack me have distorted, twisted and misrepresented my comments and are spewing utter lies to the people of this state.
Well, screw you, too, you rednecked ignorant yokel. It's a real shame that the people of Alabama are being served by fools and pandering morons. Now the Alabamans know who to vote against, I just hope there's somebody sensible left in the field to vote for.
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How do sane people cope with living is places in Alabama knowing that your neighbours and colleagues are likely to be gibbering idiots ?
This does put griping about Obama's professed faith in some perspective, yes?
I guess he suddenly remembered which teet he needs to be sucking on.
From Facebook and reading a review for this book on "Skeptical Inquirer":
Idiot America by Charles P. Pierce.
to this post by PZ.
Too much idiocy. I need to go for a run.
"How dare you suggest that I'm a sane rational person who supports science over ancient fables?"
"Anyone who suggests otherwise is simply engaged in smear tactics. I'm every bit as ignorant and stupid as the most slackjawed credulous moron among you!"
Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/mxaa3p
Funny how fundamentalists can believe that everything is a (masterpiece) yet complain so effusely about the irefutable conclusions for evolution and an old universe based on empirical evidence uncovered from 'creation'.
Never, ever, underestimate the power of stupid in today's GOP. Every time one of them makes a statement that indicates there is some sanity, it gets retracted almost immediately because either Limbaugh objected or the fundy wing rose up to declare that the person hates Jebus.
This is most definitely not your father's GOP.
We need a law requiring individuals purchasing or consuming technology to have sworn affidavits that they endorse the underlying science.
I hope they gots the version of the bible that includes instructions on building assault rifles to fiend off the black helicopters.
Hear the banjo.
Don't it take you down home?
@Brownian
The problem with making people state that they endorse science is that creationists have gotten good at splitting hairs. So when asked about antibiotic resistance, they explain that they believe in natural selection and microevolution, but insist that god put each species of finch on the Galapagos as well.
The way one lives in Alabama is the same way one lives anywhere else. One focuses on the natural world around one, reads Pharyngula, and tries not to watch local news. Having spent summers in Alabama as a kid, I can attest that it can be astonishingly beautiful.
Every time a school book is considered unconstitutional for overtly advertising religion, the school board members who approved it should be made to pay for the reprint.
I don't mean to single out Alabama because my state is just as bad, but it should be obvious that over 50% of the people of Alabama are fools and morons, and that's why they "are being served by fools and pandering morons." Voters usually get exactly what they deserve.
I am pretty certain there are. However I doubt there are many who think the Earth is only 6000 years old.
It is not the presence of idiots so much as the fact Alabama seems to have far more than many other places.
Oh but PZ, you're missing the beauty part in all this, which I just learned about from TPM! That scurrilous accusation that he believes in evil-ution was from an ad funded by TEACHER'S UNIONS (which apparently can't stand this guy because he tried to prevent employees of colleges from serving in the legislature, in addition to his obviously just being an asshole)...
So these folks are trying to take this guy out by convincing his knuckle-dragging base that he's not insane and atavistic enough to represent good God-fearing Tea-partyin' Murkin patriots! I think that's pretty awesome!
As someone who lives in Montgomery Alabama (the capital) I can honestly say that I don't run into creationists all the time. In fact, the only time I can remember was last week when some Jehovas Witnesses came to my house to talk about jesus and creation. I think they were quite suprised when I shot down their fallacious arguments with pinpoint accuracy, especially the famous '747 jumbo jet from nothing' argument. I was completely 100% nice to them, even offered them something to drink. They left pretty quick after the figured I wasn't as naive as the others on my block. I can honestly say that it made my day to see my words impact the things they belive. However, I do not get out much and hang out with friends who think like me, so I don't doubt that there are creationists everywhere around here.
"How do sane people cope with living is places in Alabama knowing that your neighbours and colleagues are likely to be gibbering idiots ?"
Plenty of stiff drinks, and support groups made up of non-gibbering friends.
"Now the Alabamans know who to vote against, I just hope there's somebody sensible left in the field to vote for."
AFAICT, there isn't. I voted for Loretta Nall in 2006, but she's not running this time. I don't think we've ever had a sensible governor, at least not in my lifetime.
Maybe they don't. One meets a few people here and there from these areas occasionally, scattered throughout the rest of the USA, NE, North Central, West Coast.
My impression is that these are true refugees. A sort of grapes of wrath type migration of smart people from the dust bowls of toxic religion and ignorance.
Good thing there aren't more or we might have to set up refugee camps. These could be the world's first refugee camps where the average IQ is 130 and everyone has at least one college degree.
crosspost from PT:
This is old hat and evolution/creationism is sort of boring.
How do these candidates stand on the really important issues facing the people of Alabama today such as the Flat Earth, Geocentrism, and Bigfoot? And are there any plans to deal with the UFO’s piloted by demons from hell?
What a cowardly moron. There's really nothing else to say.
"Those who attack me have distorted, twisted and misrepresented my comments and are spewing utter lies to the people of this state"
Wait.. you mean those other christians out there, the ones who think they have the truth and that they can only tell the truth and that have a commandment from god to only tell the the truth, those christians? Those are the ones that are liars? The ones who are just like you. Those people?
Christian values, at it again.
Alabamans have got to stop living up their stereotypes. This would be funny, if these people didn't actually make decisions that affect everyone's lives.
I live in Alabama the same way I'd live anywhere else. I am a member of a freethought community, I watch the same TV and movies as the rest of the country, and I married someone from another state. I avoid the crazy as much as possible, and laugh at it when I encounter it (otherwise I'd go insane). I've lived here my whole life, and you just learn to live with the fact that most people are morons about science/religion/politics, so you just don't talk about it with them.
How do you expect things to change if all the educated leave and refuse to return? It's like those biologists I've met who are adamant that they would never, ever teach at a place like Univ. Alabama, Georgia, or Tennessee. Oh really? Then shut the hell up bitching about the sorry state of science literacy in the South. If you refuse to do anything, you have no right to complain. Is it easy to live in that region? No...especially for an "outsider". But some people suck it up because they know they're making a difference.
Spewing derogatory labels that insult an entire culture regardless of the level of intelligence of individual people? Classy.
How DARE they call me not an ignoramus?! Why, I'm a bigger moron than any of them, and proud of it!
Quit being a fucking concern troll.
Ok, I have no idea if he is a redneck or a yokel (I'm not sure I could define yokel).
However, he is definitely ignorant. And I would add he's probably a bit willful in his ignorance.
And on top of that he's an asshat and an anti-intellectual for wanting to promote creationism as any sort of valid scientific explanation.
SO
Fuck you, you willfully ignorant anti-intellectual asshat.
Hey Newman@25, PZ didn't disrespect a culture -- he said "you" singular, as in calling Bradley Byrne, one particular person, and "rednecked, ignorant yokel." Reading fail.
Now let's just imagine that Mr. Byrne converted to Islam and tried to put into textbooks that Allah created the world and all the people in it. Just imagine that, and imagine the names that would be applied to him.
What would be wrong with disrespecting a culture that is highly religious, discriminates against women and gays and revels in wilful ignorance on many matters but especially science ?
What respect should such a culture be given ?
Now that Mr. Byrne's good name has been cleared of the outrageous accusations of sanity leveled against him, I'm sure he'll make a fine public servant.
Hairhead @29, "redneck" and "yokel" are derogatory terms that represent an entire culture. I doubt PZ (or any of you) would address a Latino creationist as an "ignorant spic". It's no different.
Matt @30, crazy beliefs don't deserve respect. But insisting that Southern culture in its entirety deserves to be stomped on, insulted, and otherwise declared as worthless is naive and is an indicator of someone who has never spent any sort of significant time in this region with these people.
I'm white and from a rural area and those names don't have anything to do with me. They are shorthand for "ignorant, backwards, authoritarian idiot." There is no nice word for that.
Newman,
How the fuck is a term used to refer to someone from the Westcountry of England a slur on someone from the Southern US ?
Mohammed fucking dog that's dumb.
FAIL FAIL FAIL FAIL FAIL+
Oh so incredibly faily.
Spic is a racial reference.
Traditionally Redneck and yokel are references to a particular brand of mostly white and mostly ignorant and frequently from more rural parts of the country group of people.
However this has morphed to mean any backwardly, ignorant dumbass who has a penchant for overly zealous religious worship, racism and grab your balls and flag patriotism.
Even pretending to make that comparison is about as historically myopic on racial issues as you can get.
Do you also think calling someone a Nigger is equal to calling someone a redneck?
No, s/he cannot help being Latino, so I wouldn't use the term spic. OTOH, theoretically* one can can help being an ignorant redneck yokel.
*Rare in practice.
can can? typo typo.
Newman @#24
It's kind of hard to educate people who are purposely destroying their own children's educations and who threaten legal action (see Virginia's attny general) when your science doesn't match their twisted idea of how the world works.
Hear, Hear!!! Good point. It is heartwarming (really) that some humanitarian aid workers have been able to get in there and try and make a difference.
Afghanistan, Somalia, Alabama, Texas, all of those sort of places may someday be able to join the 21st century or at least the 20th century.
Between the Rational Response Squad, the peace corp, foreign aid, NCSE, and other organizations, there is always hope.
Its not just Alabama. Its all thru the south. I was raised in La. Lived in Ga. and S.C., and now reside in Tn. My grandparents both sides are from Ms. Its everywhere.
I had a "discussion" with an employee (from Ms.) about the conferate flag on his jacket and politely asked him not to wear it at work as it could be offensive. His response was to point to it on his jacket and say "I believe in this" and then he pointed to the cieling and said "And I believe in that". All I could say was "Yea, OK. Just don't wear that jacket to work anymore".
I didn't know how to handle this.
Seems to me you did alright. No point in getting into an argument with him about it. You have a dress code that says no images that are likely to cause offence and you enforced it. If the employee cannot see why the confederate flag could cause offence then that is his problem.
@35: You know what your argument reminds me of? Those people who insist the Swastika shouldn't be offensive to Jews because its origins are relatively harmless.
@39: Therefore, we should just give up. Gotcha. That'll work.
@36 & 37: Sure, that may be a technical definition (if such a thing even exists). But those terms are frequently used by non-Southerners in reference to anyone from the South with a distinct accent. Vernacular use and understanding of the terms is just as important as what they're supposed to "really" mean. Sorry, but when you don't belong to the culture and you use those terms, you come across as a bigot. Regardless of intent (though, if your intent is to be a bigot, then double-fail).
Sorry, Newman, having lived in The South for three years, I can safely say there is no such thing as "Southern culture." Certainly nothing positive.
"Southern hospitality" was extended only to whites, and frequently only to white men.
I found more respect given to people on the street in New York, Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Indianapolis, and even Washington DC than I ever found in The South.
(Atlanta seems to be the rare exception to these observations.) Even in the capital cities, the stark ignorance and apathy about mediocrity appeared commonplace.
I have absolutely no desire to ever return. Just thinking about it makes me want to take a shower to remove the residue.
Yes it's everywhere, but it is by no means everyone.
But it's easy to keep thinking that it is because that makes lazily pointing at that corner of the country as Dumbfuckistan so much easier. Instead of addressing the actual people that are the problem just toss the whole area out the window.
Clearly I am not getting through to you.
The word yokel means someone from the Westcountry of England. It is not the origin of the word, it is what it means.
Now take you concern and fuck yourself you xenophobic fuckwit.
Yea, I didn't mean everyone. I just find so few thinking people there. You learn to expect "so what church do you go to?" alot.
Newman:
red·neck
Informal: Often Disparaging. noun
1.an uneducated white farm laborer, esp. from the South.
2.a bigot or reactionary, esp. from the rural working class.
–adjective
3. Also, red-necked . narrow, prejudiced, or reactionary: a redneck attitude.
yo·kel –noun
a rustic; a country bumpkin.
Chew on those semantics. Byrne is a narrow, prejudiced, uneducated, reactionary bigot. Or he is pretending to be one, which is even worse. There's no bigotry in calling a spade a fucking shovel.
I live in the UK, and have never once been asked that question. I would think someone very odd indeed if they ever did ask me.
Oh, and I would add for Newman's benefit, that there people in the Westcountry of England that milks the yokel label and uses it to make money from tourists.
Hardly akin to a racial slur is it ?
Newman:
No matter how many episodes of The Jeff Foxworthy Show you may have seen, "redneck" is not some kind of term of endearment, and unlike your example it is not a racist term: It is race-neutral and is more a state of mind. Likewise "yokel."
Your concern has been noted and, if you take the opportunity to stay quiet, will be thoroughly ignored.
Yea, I didn't mean everyone. I just find so few thinking people there. You learn to expect "so what church do you go to?" alot.
Hell, it's not a lot. Not in East Texas and Dallas.
It was so common to hear that question when I met people that I was pleasantly surprised when I moved to Southern Cal and nobody was asking that retarded question.
It was so common where I grew up, I expected (and dreaded) to hear it.
Hello...Newman
I see you failed to address the difference between a racial insult such as spic and redneck.
I don't find redneck offensive, I guess because I heard it so much. Most of my friends growing up were outdoorsy, hunting, fishing, pickup truck driving rednecks. And we were proud of it. Yea, I'm a white male.
I'm not so proud of it now and don't use the word. Being from La. I am an "RCA". Registered Coon Ass. I don't get offended when some one calls me a coon-ass, but the word coon in the south also refers to african-americans. So it could be offensive. I don't use it anymore but again I'm not offended.
Same with redneck.
We have two diametrically opposed worldviews:
1)In science, evidence is the ultimate arbiter of truth. It is the ultimate test of a theory or belief.
2)On the other hand, we have fundie nonsense, where evidence is merely a test of one's faith--something to be ignored.
Option #2 seems to be winning, and will not be satisfied until they bring about a new dark age.
@46: Clearly, I am not getting through to you. That is most certainly not what that word means in the South. If that's the best excuse you've got, you fail.
Xenophobic? Wow, you know nothing. Way to make unfounded assumptions. Thanks for proving my entire point.
@58-
Get over it Newman. A derogatory insult and an ethnic slur are two entirely different things. Unless you're arguing that "redneck" is an ethnic group? What would the PC term be, then?
Hahaha wow, y'all are just as good as those folks over on the Tuscaloosa News Forum when I'm trying to argue evolution, religion, and global warming.
@55 - It's kinda like (imho, anyway, and from talking to many others like me) how black people can use 'n*****' amongst themselves and it's ok, but I'm white so I could never ever use that word. When Southerners use 'redneck' and even sometimes 'yokel' (though that's not nearly as common and it's still usually offensive) amongst ourselves--like when I was making fun of a demolition derby here in Calif--that's way different than when outsiders use it as a blanket term. It really does depend on your background and where you come from. A Southerner making fun of the South is very different. Hypocritical? Perhaps. But that's the way the world works. This is just one example.
I'm from the South and I call bullshit on you.
I know plenty of people who claim that definition of themselves and plenty of people who wear the redneck label as a badge of honor.
Redneck is in no way analogous to calling someone a spic or a nigger.
And you trying to say it is exposes a little something about you.
Newman, the Rev. BDC lives in the south. He should know the meaning of the words, and how they are used locally.
Newman, the Rev. is right.
PZ didn't use it as a blanket term. He called Byrne, singular, a redneck and yokel.
Which using the definition of a dumbass ignorant mouthbreather, he very well could be.
The following words are the reason atheism will always remain a taboo on the back burner:
"Byrne won a speck of sympathy from me, despite the fact that he's a Republican, for at least standing up for the evidence."
The allegiance and the complete and total commitment in all situations under all circumstances, regardless of who they are(Mom, Dad, Sister, Friend) must always be to god. Absolutely they can be decent people. Absolutely they can walk astray from this good path. Absolutely they can put the needs of man along with rational & critical thinking before god. After all it is their god who has designed them as imperfect sinful and often vile creatures. But, if they are true Christians. If their faith in god is real under no circumstance in no situation is it acceptable for them to put anything before their god, its law or its demands.
If you do not love their god and their god alone . . . .
@62
Exactly my point. You and #61 seem to think it means the same to everyone. I also "know plenty of people who claim that definition of themselves and plenty of people who wear the redneck label as a badge of honor." But see #60.
@51 - "Freethinker" = you're golden as long as you agree with us. Wait...don't I remember soooo many blog posts by PZ about how it's not ok to demand, ask nicely, or otherwise imply that people who don't agree with you should keep silent?
Buh-bye, y'all.
Hypocrites. They want to follow the constitution except for the parts they don't like:
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.
#66 "Buh-bye, y'all"
Where's my can of Febreze...
Typical response of someone who can't admit they made a mistake.
I notice you ran off with your tail between your legs refusing to address my comments at all.
Newman, would you prefer the term ignorant fuckheads, then? Cracker? Look, as near as I can tell, the ignorant rule in the south precisely because those few who are educated and have not fled to less benighted areas tolerate their ignorance.
Frankly, all I can say is that Sherman had the right idea. He just should have finished the job.
Regarding the whole redneck/yokel issue: it is often a legitimate slur used for any white Southerner. In this instance it's obviously being used as a descriptive term for somebody who is deserving of ridicule.
As for Alabama: it's true, braindrain is a major issue. I don't blame professors from elsewhere refusing to teach here, its natives who get the hell out as soon as possible. The alternative is adapting. I guarantee that Byrne is smart enough to know that evolution is fact; he's also smart enough to deny it.
Yeah. Mine neither.
I think you are being a little pessimistic. #2 is losing, quite badly, and has been for centuries. The reason they are so vocal and bitter and confrontational and threatening is because they KNOW they are losing, and they are desperate.
These are the last gasping snarls of a rabid dog that is simply refusing to go quietly into that good night and trying to take the rest of us with it into oblivion.
This is not to say that they're not dangerous, of course, but it is the duty of the rest of sane civiization to contain the damage resulting from their ongoing self-destruction.
Comments like this really don't do any argument well.
since when does "redneck" belong exclusively to the south? I grew up in rural new england and it was used by idiots to self-identify and used by the rest of us as a shorthand for that specific breed of idiot. Newman's argument is beyond moronic.
daveau @72:
But what more is there to say about your claim @37 that a high-kicking dance can solve stupidity?
:p
It doesn't
RBDC, I'm sorry, but I just don't see any hope for the US south of about 35 degrees North. They are bound and determined to reject science, and since the formation of the nation they have insisted on dominating national politics with their "peculiar institutions". Prior to 1865 it was slavery. Since it has been racism and anti-science. I do not see any choice but to wall them off and let them become the third-world shithole they so desperately want to be.
I assert, without proof, that all forms of dance can solve stupidity. Not just the can can.
Ah, c'mon... don't you know that, "In Birmingham they love the governor"?
Yes we dumb asses in the south are one large homogenous group of ignorant mouth breathers.
Never mind the great universities in the south, or the artists, writers, free thinkers, progressive politicians, and most importantly yes plain old country folk and city living people who don't fit the geographical stereotype that everyone just loves to apply to the whole region and anything or anyone from it.
Those who don't fit the stereotype exist. I know them. Part of them are friends, family and co workers. Some of them are the farmers I get my produce directly from and the guy who serves me pulled pork at the BBQ restaurant I frequent which is invariably packed full of a racial diverse crowd.
I'm not naive enough to think that there isn't a great number of people that fit the dumb ass redneck right wing fuck-head label. There are. I interact with them as well, but the south I've lived in most of my life isn't the South everyone lazily attributes this monolithic ignorant characteristic to.
My country born and raised atheist, long term University Professor of Entomology Grandfather would hate to be lumped in with that label considering all he did in his life and the people he knew.
Point is, large sweeping stereotypes are bullshit, especially when you are just circling a portion of a map.
@daveau #79
I'd like to see some clinical data on the Macarena.
daveau, I would like to agree with you, but my personal experience as a former dancer convinces me that dance is not the cure.
A short anecdote (which I readily admit is not "proof" but is a data point) will illustrate this. During the Gulf War, I was having a conversation with other dancers in a show I was doing. They were arguing about who keeps up with current events better, dancers or musicians (I happen to be both, and was in the show). None of the other dancers were able to accurately say what country the United States was at war with -- which I found utterly shocking. They could all describe Barbara Bush's clothing, but not anything of substance about the war.
I notice Newman didn't respond to my #44 comment. Good. (I should have included: BOCTAOE - but of course there are obvious exceptions).
Wait, let me get this straight...
Byrne gets "slandered" by creationists who expose their vile mentality by making up false claims in public and getting caught.
Byrne responds by exposing himself as an ally of liars by agreeing with their willful idiocy, which can demonstrably be upheld only by lying and denying reality.
And somehow this man thinks that these are the people it's a good idea to ally with.
I just don't get it. "No, no! What you heard about my opinion of history is all wrong! The holocaust deniers told you I was a Jew lover, but I'm not! I always said the holocaust never happened just like those nice people, and I'm a firm believer in White Supremacy to this day. In fact, when I get elected, I'll show the nation how good I am at making stuff up about history and lying to just plain everyone, including your children! Yay, vote me!"
RBDC, my concern is not labeling but rather electoral politics. The South has dominated it as long as there has been an electorate and even went to the extreme of counting slaves as 3/5 of a human being to ensure they would do so. And they have continued to dominate politics--even handing Bush an undeserved win in 2000.
I do not see how the US can address the problems it must address in the 21st century when half of the electoral college and over half of the Senate is determined by states where intellectual (let alone liberal) is considered a slur. At this point, I don't see how we can lift the South up without it tearing the rest of the country down.
What choice is there but dissolution or emigration to Europe for anyone with an IQ over room temperature (in degrees C)?
Yeah a_ray_in_dilbert_space, I feel your pain. That's a frustration I understand and know well.
I've voted in every single election i was able to minus one since I came of age. Save the decade I lived in Wyoming and Colorado all were in the south. Hell, even the ones in WY and CO were disappointing.
And again, intellectual and liberal are only slurs to part of the population.
The choice is to keep working.
So, did anybody else see this little snippet from a Tennessee classroom yesterday?
I know it's not Alabama, but Tennessee has roughly the same critical mass of morons.
I was wondering if perhaps one of the contributors here was a lawyer and could tell us all whether or not that "teacher" was crossing any legal lines. It seems fairly obvious to me that he was discussing creationism in the classroom and that he should be immediately fired (leaving aside his tenuous grasp of speciation).
Alright, where's the fucking pentobarbital for the rabid dog?
Cultural relativism is for idiots.
I don't respect anyone's culture. Not even my own.
Or just vote for the lesser of two evils.
Nice one Reverend, now instead of a well-informed and articulate point, I will remember your comment for its mention of pulled pork.
*belly rumble*
I have close relatives who are fundamentalist Christians, live on properties that look like automotive grave yards, have Confederate flag stickers on their pick-ups, and revel in term "redneck." One cousin of them had a website (I think it's long gone now) declaring how proud he was to be a redneck.
And their family has lived in upper Midwest (i.e. Wisconsin, Northern Illinois) since their ancestors got off the boat from Germany and Norway.
Jasper, Alabama resident here. I'm banging my head against my television every time I see the village idiot making a grab for public office.
Needless to say, I've been doing this daily.
Cheese whiz, this is the first time I've ever heard Ontario referred to as part of the South.
After all, redneck and yokel are two words which very accurately describe (and in many cases are used as self-descriptors) in my locality.
I guess it's the magnolia trees or something.
jidashdee @87: that clip was horrifying. I need to wash my brain out with soap now. If there's a silver lining, it's that there are quite a few good comments.
And Newman, if you're still reading: as our host has stated on numerous occasions, nobody has the right to not be offended. If I call an African man 'nigger', I'm using a racial slur. If that man happens to be acting like an idiot (or a redneck) and I call him one, I'm just describing him. If he doesn't like that, well, he can get all mad or he can stop acting that way.
Isn't it pathetic if you need Jebus to GUIDE you, when you have to piss?
And this guy wants to lead US, and expects people to vote for him, while he himself needs guidance to shit?
And isn't that taking the role of a "personal savior" a little bit too far? "My every action"? Really? Can't he even wipe his own snotty nose?
I remain puzzled by the mouthbreather epithet. Is there supposed to be some connection between sinus infections and stupidity?
The US south seems quite intriguing to me from outside. A very strange place, where I would definitely not like to live. There's a faux romance attached to it, seemingly all about ladies in big flouncy frocks and big white houses with verandahs and mint juleps - and pretending that slavery is kinda cute and cuddly. Ew, ugly. Whited sepulchres. Certainly US southern culture has produced some amazing things - most that I'm aware of came from the underclasses who weren't part of the "redneck" culture. Jazz, blues, soul food, civil rights activists; oppressed minorities all.
Marrying out, just the first step in the state going to hell in a handbasket.
Mouthbreather
I know *that* it is an insult. Just, well, why? Is it in the same class as "retard"? (Defs 1 & 2 suggest an etymology, which may or may not be retconning, but see also definition 4.)
He's proud that he's been fighting to push creationism bullshit into the public schools? What a yahoo. I can't say redneck - that'd be insulting the rednecks.
@Cath: not all southerners are anywhere near that dumb, but the tv shows sure like to make them look that way. You'll see yokels in the south just as you'll see them in the north.
Haven't you ever come into contact with someone who just stands around with their mouth open all the time looking, um.... not quite playing with a full deck?
mikerattlesnake - real New Englanders are NOT rednecks!
Now some of us are swamp yankees, but that's a whole nuther thing.
Is this story really from 2010? Or is it from 1010?
I'm proud to be a non-Alabaman.
Calling BS on Mattir @ #11.
Unless s/he is referring to a part of Alabama that I have yet to visit, I must say that this does not match my experience of Alabama in the summer.
So hot that it's too much effort to keep one's eyes open? Yes. So humid that the only way to dry off is to take a shower? Absolutely. I will admit that there is the possibility that it might be considered beautiful if it were possible to go outdoors in the summer, but between the air quality and the heat/humidity, I have yet to see it. Fall, winter, spring, no question, there are beautiful parts, but summer? Not so much. Granted, I don't know in what decade hir childhood took place, and the climate may have changed, and the air quality worsened, but considering what has happened to the steel industry, that may very well be better now.
FWIW, I split my time between Georgia and Alabama, and am grateful that I'm registered to vote in Georgia. Which is a bold statement, considering our own elected officials. Only been asked once what church I go to, when I first moved to Georgia, and that was online, but then again, I've been socializing with people I can stand to be around, and in Atlanta and Birmingham, at least, people realize that that just isn't an appropriate question in the workplace at large employers. Yes, people drop the casual religious crap more than they did in DC, but when I mention that bible quotes make me uncomfortable in shared workplace areas, everyone shows obvious embarrassment over crossing what they could see to be a line. Yes, Atlanta is not necessarily representative of all of Georgia and Birmingham is not necessarily representative of all of Alabama, but there are an awful lot of people in both, including loads of voters for state offices.
Also, the Djinnman and I were VERY pleasantly surprised at how many lacrosse games were scheduled for Easter weekend this year. Sure, everyone knows that football is more important than Jesus in the deep south, but lacrosse? We had been kind of looking forward to a weekend off, but no such luck. Talk about a missed/mixed atheist blessing! Yay, the sport we love is now big enough to pre-empt Jesus. Crap, we don't get a weekend off in the middle of the season.
Once again, very glad that I'm registered to vote in Georgia. Atlanta politicians may suck, but at least our liberal oasis doesn't have a mayor pulling a "sackcloth and ashes" stunt on the city dime (while wearing a Rolex).
@#87:
The video is really stupid... now, I am not the lawyer you are looking for, but I don't think the teacher broke the law. Its not illegal to discuss creation, only to teach it, and I didn't see him doing that (although I think he does teach it... he mentioned he gives both "equal time," which is, of course, stupid).
Two things though - I fuckin hate the word evolutionist. They aren't "evolutionists", they're "real biologists." Furthermore, the teacher indicated he doesn't believe that evolution occurs. Frankly, I don't think you should be allowed to teach biology if you reject one of its foundations.
Also, that kid at the end - "How can a ni... uh, African American
[Oops, hit submit too early]
have evolved from a white person? We have different skin!"
Apparently, white really is the default, original color, and changing melanin production is totally impossible.
And all these many years I had believed that Deliverance was a movie, a work of fiction. Having been enlighted I now know that it was a documentary.
I think Alabamans are going to vote for the one who wuvs Jesus the mostest.
As a West Countryman I'm offended that being called a yokel will now bracket me with Bradley Byrne.:-(
In future I will isist on Carrot Cruncher.
At leasst I'm not a Sheep Shagger :-)
"isist" some sort of Egyption religious nut?
Osirisly, come on now.
As we've just learned in Knox County, Tenn., there is apparently a split among creationists. Byrne and most of the, uh, entrepreneurial creationists say they want "teaching of creationism in our school text books," but a text that teaches the controversy just came under fire from parents who do not want their religious beliefs addressed in science classes (where they might be subjected to such horribly derogatory words as 'myth'). One school board member wondered why creationism was mentioned at all in an honors biology text.
"Teach the controversy" is starting to look more useful as a sales pitch and political slogan than as an actual strategy. I'm sure y'all are smart enough to exploit a division when it presents itself.
i really did mean Nut
:-D
I wish we could do this for every public servant who is guilty of grievous malfeasance and incompetence on the job. It would make them alot more accountable if they had to pay for the mistakes they make. As it is only their children end up doing it and future taxes on their children is just too abstract an incentive to motivate them.
Out of curiosity I just looked up 'malfeasance' and discovered the correct word for my meaning was 'misfeasance'(although as far as politicians go both words are good). Personal word of the day. :)
> Now the Alabamans know who to vote against, I just hope there's somebody sensible left in the field to vote for.
One of my favourite things about elections in Australia* is that you do get to "vote against" as much as you "vote for". Because you get to rank the candidates (both for the Senate and the House of Representatives, and their state equivalents), the choice of whom to put *dead last* is especially fun.
Choosing whom to vote *for* is often a bit thin, with only a couple of parties coming close to agreeing with the majority of my policy preferences, so it's generally a matter of compromise. But there's always plenty of prime candidates for last!
* (with a few exceptions)