NYT: Teacher Says Board Effort on Evolution Was Resisted

[YankeyMCC]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/28/national/28evolution.html

(snip)

The conflict in Dover grew so heated that in public meetings board members called opponents "atheists," threatened to fire the science teachers and invoked Jesus' crucifixion as a reason to change the curriculum, two witnesses testified on Tuesday.

(snip)



So it's acceptable to use "atheist" as an derogatory slur? What an uproar there would be if the subject had been homosexuality and the board member flung "Homo" at someone who supported teaching kids about diverse families regardless of the fact of the person's sexuality. But let "atheist" be used in the same manor and not a peep of disapproval.

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. This is getting out of hand.

It's time to find out who is behind this. Who REALLY is behind this.

[Kelvin Mace]

6. Who's behind this

The religously insane are behind this. They have always been insane, but now they have power.

[Bridget Burke]

9. CWA is one source.

Concerned Women for America was founded by Beverly (Mrs Left Behind) LaHaye to combat the Equal Rights Amendment. The site remains a good source for the Christian Reconstructionists' hot topics. Here's "Action Alert: Intelligent Design Refutes Evolution"

www.cwfa.org/articledisplay.asp?id=8947&department=FIELD&categoryid=education

Click your way through this site if you've got a strong stomach.

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. The Christian P.A.C.s If they're tax exmpt, they shouldn't be.

Maybe that's where we should begin.

[lakercub]

16. The Discovery Institute is a big ID backer.

They were part of the sham trial in Kansas. They have backed away from this particular lawsuit, however. I think this is because they realize this case could actually go very,very badly for them.

IDers to look out for include Behe (author of "Darwin's Black Box"), Dembski, and Jonathan Wells (who I believe is a follower of Reverend Moon).

Most Christian groups are behind this even though ID pretends not to posit an identity for the designer. Some creationist groups probably aren't IDers, like Answeres in Genesis. I actually went to an AiG presentation once (DON'T!!!) and Ken Ham, their leader, actually claimed that James Dobson wasn't fundamentalist enough in his Genesis interpretation.

[RedCloud]

2. Sounds like the progressive need to run some decent board members.

[smoogatz]

3. That's what happens in a theocracy.

Fire the science teachers today, burn the witches tomorrow.

[SmokingJacket]

4. Right wing Christians are packing school boards.

Perhaps us secular humanists should mount a similar campaign...

[smoogatz]

5. It should be cast as intellectuals vs. anti-intellectuals,

not humanists vs. fundies. Anti-intellectuals want to suppress or distort or discount science. Intellectuals think the best available science should be taught as such. Case closed.

[Bridget Burke]

10. Or dumbasses versus non-dumbasses....

Some find the word "intellectual" offputting.

I don't, but many folks who don't earn their living in an intellectual field have curiosity about the world & its past. And their kids pack the museums when there's special dinosaur show.

[0rganism]

19. "intellectuals" is already a slur, maybe use "science vs. anti-science"

Seriously, you need look no further than the RNC's 2004 campaign to see that "intellectual" is as good as "gay", "atheist", or "drug addict" for motivating the base.

[kestrel91316]

12. Won't be easy. Secular humanists aren't naturally inclined to be

DOMINEERING CONTROL FREAKS!!!!!!!!!

[DBoon]

17. a stealth capaign by secret tightly organized cadres

that would make Lenin proud.

[beam me up scottie]

7. If you want to see how they are enlisting

and training militants, check out the article in my thread in R&T:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=214x27555

[Kailassa]

14. the devil wears a crucifix

If Jesus was here watching what supposed christians are doing in his name, I have no doubt h"e'd turn atheist.

[Bridget Burke]

18. Actually, the Crucifix is pretty Catholic.

And the RC Church made its peace with science some time ago.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. Cat's out of bag: "invoked Jesus' crucifixion ... to change curriculum".

[Coastie for Truth]

11. Dover PENNSYLVANIA "Scopes Trial II"

:sarcasm:
RANT
FLAME

The Dover PENNSYLVANIA "Scopes Trial II"

What can you expect in a state where the voters:

1. Elected and re-elected Pete Flaherty Mayor of its second largest city - killed Mass Transit - and told the builder "You don't like it - leave" (They did - I worked for them)

2. Elected and re-elected Tom Murphy Mayor of its second largest city, as he led it into Act 47 Municipal Bankruptcy.

3. Elected and re-elected Tom Ridge Governor - against a solid ACLU liberal, progressive Assembly Democratic Leader, Ivan Itkin PhD.

4. Responded to Brown v. Board of Education by voting to defund "Summer Enrichment Programs" in its two largest public school systems.

I can criticize the Keystone State - cause I was born and raised there - and have my "Pre-Need Family Plot" there (That way my last trip will be in the cargo hold of a US Airways Jet).

:sarcasm:

[mahatmakanejeeves]

15. What if a board member had called an opponent a homo?

There wouldn't have been any flap at all.

[Solly Mack]

20. When I hear someone say "so and so is an atheist" I think

"Oh, so they're smarter than you and that intimidates you"

But weak mentalities use such words (atheist, gay, feminist, liberal) as slurs (even though they are not) because they are afraid of the words and the concepts/meanings behind the words. Such words challenge them and their beliefs....and the weak will tolerate no challenges to their beliefs.

A scientific theory is not based on belief. ID/Creationism is not a scientific theory.