Our local Young Democrats take on the RW's attack on Science.

[efhmc]

Lampasas Young Democrats call a press conference and political rally.
The Press Conference is to announce the delivery of signed petitions
addressed to Gail Lowe, Texas State Board of Education member, district 14, requesting that science textbooks and curriculum be kept free of non-scientific content and that religion not be taught in science classes. (Gail Lowe is the wife of the publisher and editor of our local right wing newspaper.) This will take place on Nov. 4, 2003.*****************************************************************Background:
Scientists, teachers and religious leaders are clashing over how the
origin of humanity should be taught to Texas school children in biology textbooks. On one side, the Discovery Institute, a Seattle-based think tank, is leading a campaign to change the language of biology books to include so-called weaknesses in the theory of evolution. The Discovery Institute has been linked to a theory known as "intelligent design" - a belief that species did not evolve by natural selection but instead progressed according to a plan or design. Institute officials say they have no intentions of lobbying the state to include intelligent design. Several officials from the Discovery Institute were on hand to testify at a recent SBOE hearing, but the board voted 10-3 not to let the out-of-state witnesses testify during the hearing. Scientists and public watchdog groups testified during an SBOE public hearing that: the theory of evolution remains widely accepted in scientific communities, and evolution is a cornerstone of modern scientific research and technology. Critics of the SBOE's attack on the veracity of the textbooks say that: the attempt to discredit Darwinian theory in textbooks is a scheme to later persuade publishers to include religious-based explanations for the origins of life, and "intelligent design" is a dressed-up version of creationism, which the U.S. Supreme Court has prohibited from public schools as a violation of the separation of church and state.

I am so proud of our young people. Unless you live in a small Texas (or other RW location) town, you will never know how strong they will have to be to stand up to the enormous amount of hate and right wing craziness that will be sent their way. Send me and them some good thoughts, ideas and vibes to help us win the day on this very important issue.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. I wish I had some ideas but I am wiped out

I will send well wishes and good vibes in their absence though :thumbsup:

[efhmc]

3. I hope that someone will video tape this event. You really have no

idea how brave this is. I am sure that at that age, I could not been as strong and sure as this band of true hearts are. Bless them all.

[tom_paine]

2. God Bless those brave youngsters!

:toast: :toast:

[efhmc]

4. It really gives me hope and faith for the future that there are young

people like this.

[sandnsea]

5. That is one tough group

Ohio fought them last year or earlier this year. I don't remember the outcome, but I did read alot of the school board testimony. You have to have your facts clearly lined out to fight these people. They are slick and relentless. I'd highly recommend these kids google up some of the arguments that have been used in states and districts that succeeded in defeating this group. It is absolutely a group with an agenda, it did not just form out of happenstance. Good luck to them, they will really need it.

[efhmc]

6. Here it is the accepted thing to "believe" in creationism and if you

don't you are some kind of pagan voodoo worshiper. I am a scientist and have never had any problem with my Christian beliefs. What I tell anyone who will actually listen is, "What you are doing is making God in your small image. I have no problem with believing that God/Godess created everything. What I have a problem with is your small minded idea of how it was done."

[madfloridian]

7. Too far away to help, but will give it a kick!

I am very proud of them. If I get any ideas will pm you.

:kick: for a good cause!

[fabius]

8. Go YD's !!!!!!!!!!!

:bounce:

Take it from me, faith based science doesn't work. No amount of ideology will revoke the law of gravity.

[Liberator_Rev]

9. Democrats need to reclaim the moral highground from the cooks

Share http://www.LiberalsLikeChrist.Org/Democrats and http://www.LiberalsLikeChrist.Org/GODvsGreed and the rest of our site with these young people so that they can argue that WE LIBERALS are the ones acting like Christ told his followers to act.