Our Dear Leaders Speak
loom | August 23, 2006From his latest column:
Liberals see the political value to teaching evolution in school, as it makes teachers and children think they are no more special than animals. Childhood joy and ambition can turn into depression as children learn to reject that they were created in the image of God.
He may not be in office any more, but this piece wins Kemp an honorary spot in the creationist-friendly political pantheon.
Update: Thursday 8/24 Turns out this is the work of the old foe of evolution, Phyllis Schlafly. Kemp's view on evolution remain a mystery. More here.
loom | January 10, 2006Governor Ernie Fletcher of Kentucky uses his State of the Commonwealth speech last night to plug intelligent design:
As I close, let me recognize Kentucky's veterans. You have served to protect our liberty and the freedom that spurs our quality of life in this nation. Please know that this administration is committed to supporting you.
And where does this freedom come from that many have died to protect?
Our founding fathers recognized that we were endowed with this right by our creator.
So I ask, what is wrong with teaching "intelligent design" in our schools. Under KERA, our school…
loom | January 6, 2006Rick Perry's on board! And no postmodern vagueness for him. He's here to tell us that intelligent design is a "valid scientific theory." That's right, governor. Just check out all the work on intelligent design going on in the biology department at your state's fine university. Um...wait...it's there somewhere. Just let me figure out how to work this search function...
(Hat tip to Panda's Thumb.)
loom | December 28, 2005Why is it that politicians who say they want to strengthen science teaching standards can sound so post-modern about science? Two examples:
1. John McCain grooving with the kids on MTV about evolution:
"I see no reason why students should not be exposed to all theories, recognizing that Darwin's theory's certainly one that is generally accepted in most of the scientific community. I think it's not inappropriate to say there are also people who believe this. Let the student decide." [Emphasis mine]
Okay students, we've spent our science class this year learning all theories about the universe…
loom | October 10, 2005When it comes to evolution, the nation's attention is focused these days on Dover, Pennsylvania, where parents are suing the local board of education for introducing creationism into the classroom. It's certainly an important case, but if you really want to get a sense of what's at stake in the struggle over evolution, I suggest you turn your attention south, to the sunshine state. Florida is trying to have it both ways when it comes to creationism, and sooner or later something's going to have to give.
Two weeks ago, governor Jeb Bush broke ground on what he has called "a defining moment in…
loom | August 24, 2005From an article on how John McCain may be positioning himself for a presidential run in The Arizona Star:
McCain told the Star that, like Bush, he believes "all points of view" should be available to students studying the origins of mankind.
"Available" is a wonderfully vague word.
Senator, Senator, a follow-up question please? Just a clarification? Do you mean that teachers just drop some pamphlets by the door that explain how we were designed by aliens? Or should that be on the final exam?
loom | August 5, 2005I'll close the week with an open letter to President Bush just released by the American Astronomical Society's president, Prof. Robert Kirschner, to express disappointment with his comments on bringing intelligent design into the classroom. Astronomers may not deal with natural selection or fossils, but as a general principle, they don't like seeing non-science and science getting confused.
Washington, DC. The American Astronomical Society is releasing the text of a letter concerning "intelligent design" and education that was sent earlier today to President George W. Bush by the President…
loom | August 3, 2005A statement from the National Science Teachers' Association on Bush's remarks about Intelligent Design:
NSTA Disappointed About Intelligent Design Comments Made by President Bush
2005-08-03 - NSTA
The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the world's largest organization of science educators, is stunned and disappointed that President Bush is endorsing the teaching of intelligent design - effectively opening the door for nonscientific ideas to be taught in the nation's K-12 science classrooms.
"We stand with the nation's leading scientific organizations and scientists, including Dr.…
loom | August 2, 2005The American Geophysical Union just issued a press release in response to Bush's comments about intelligent design. It's not online at their web site yet, so I've posted it here. (Update: It's on line now.) This is not the first time that the 43,000 members of the AGU have spoken out against creationism. They protested the sale of a creationist account of the Grand Canyon in National Park Service stores, and condemned the airing of a creationist movie about cosmology at the Smithsonian Institution. But this is the first time they've taken on the President.
American Geophysical Union 2 August…
loom | August 2, 2005After a day-long road trip from Ohio, I finally had the chance to read the news that President Bush thinks that schools should discuss Intelligent Design alongside evolution, so that students can "understand what the debate is about."
As Bush himself said, this is pretty much the same attitude he had towards creationism when he was a governor. His statements back in Texas didn't actually lead to any changes in Texas schools, and I doubt that these new remarks will have much direct effect, either. But, like Chris Mooney, I'm a journalist, and like him I would have loved to have been in the…