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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
 Posted - 03/23/2009 : 07:54:54
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At least two thirds of our miseries spring from human stupidity, human malice and those great motivators and justifiers of malice and stupidity, idealism, dogmatism and proselytizing zeal on behalf of religious or political idols. ~~ Aldous Huxley
The TX school board is about to vote and it ain't lookin' good.
The Texas Board of Education will vote this week on a new science curriculum designed to challenge the guiding principle of evolution, a step that could influence what is taught in biology classes across the nation.
The proposed curriculum change would prompt teachers to raise doubts that all life on Earth is descended from common ancestry. Texas is such a huge textbook market that many publishers write to the state's standards, then market those books nationwide.
"This is the most specific assault I've seen against evolution and modern science," said Steven Newton, a project director at the National Center for Science Education, which promotes teaching of evolution.
Texas school board chairman Don McLeroy also sees the curriculum as a landmark -- but a positive one.
Associated Press
Rev. Carl W. Rohlfs of the University United Methodist Church in Austin, left, talks with Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller, right, Thursday in Austin. The State Board of Education is voting on science-curriculum standards on the teaching of evolution.
Dr. McLeroy believes that God created the earth less than 10,000 years ago. If the new curriculum passes, he says he will insist that high-school biology textbooks point out specific aspects of the fossil record that, in his view, undermine the theory that all life on Earth is descended from primitive scraps of genetic material that first emerged in the primordial muck about 3.9 billion years ago.
He also wants the texts to make the case that individual cells are far too complex to have evolved by chance mutation and natural selection, an argument popular with those who believe an intelligent designer created the universe.
The textbooks will "have to say that there's a problem with evolution -- because there is," said Dr. McLeroy, a dentist. "We need to be honest with the kids."
The vast majority of scientists accept evolution as the best explanation for the diversity of life on earth.
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If I lived in TX and this nonsensical crap passes, I'd start homeschooling my grand and great-grand kids.  The education of our children is far too important to place in the hands of followers of a lot less interesting and far less coherent work of fiction than Harry Potter.
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist! 
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Edited by - filthy on 03/23/2009 08:00:21
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perrodetokio
Skeptic Friend
275 Posts |
 Posted - 03/23/2009 : 08:44:47 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by filthy
At least two thirds of our miseries spring from human stupidity, human malice and those great motivators and justifiers of malice and stupidity, idealism, dogmatism and proselytizing zeal on behalf of religious or political idols. ~~ Aldous Huxley
The TX school board is about to vote and it ain't lookin' good.
The Texas Board of Education will vote this week on a new science curriculum designed to challenge the guiding principle of evolution, a step that could influence what is taught in biology classes across the nation.
The proposed curriculum change would prompt teachers to raise doubts that all life on Earth is descended from common ancestry. Texas is such a huge textbook market that many publishers write to the state's standards, then market those books nationwide.
"This is the most specific assault I've seen against evolution and modern science," said Steven Newton, a project director at the National Center for Science Education, which promotes teaching of evolution.
Texas school board chairman Don McLeroy also sees the curriculum as a landmark -- but a positive one.
Associated Press
Rev. Carl W. Rohlfs of the University United Methodist Church in Austin, left, talks with Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller, right, Thursday in Austin. The State Board of Education is voting on science-curriculum standards on the teaching of evolution.
Dr. McLeroy believes that God created the earth less than 10,000 years ago. If the new curriculum passes, he says he will insist that high-school biology textbooks point out specific aspects of the fossil record that, in his view, undermine the theory that all life on Earth is descended from primitive scraps of genetic material that first emerged in the primordial muck about 3.9 billion years ago.
He also wants the texts to make the case that individual cells are far too complex to have evolved by chance mutation and natural selection, an argument popular with those who believe an intelligent designer created the universe.
The textbooks will "have to say that there's a problem with evolution -- because there is," said Dr. McLeroy, a dentist. "We need to be honest with the kids."
The vast majority of scientists accept evolution as the best explanation for the diversity of life on earth.
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If I lived in TX and this nonsensical crap passes, I'd start homeschooling my grand and great-grand kids. The education of our children is far too important to place in the hands of followers of a lot less interesting and far less coherent work of fiction than Harry Potter.
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A dentist? WTF? |
"Yes I have a belief in a creator/God but do not know that he exists." Bill Scott
"They are still mosquitoes! They did not turn into whales or lizards or anything else. They are still mosquitoes!..." Bill Scott
"We should have millions of missing links or transition fossils showing a fish turning into a philosopher..." Bill Scott |
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Simon
SFN Regular
USA
1992 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2009 : 09:07:30 [Permalink]
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| That the closest most creationist proponents ever get from real biology... |
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
Carl Sagan - 1996 |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2009 : 12:17:42 [Permalink]
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The thing about this is that, if passed, it will go to court and cost everyone concerned a hell of a lot of wasted time and money. Did these pious peckerheads not observe Dover? And Cobb County, et al? I suppose not.
It's what religions do best, you know; sow confusion and turn people against each other. Thus it has always been; thus it shall always be. Don't believe it? Then look at the Sunni/Shite idiocy that's been around since the overdue demise of the "prophet" Muhammad -- another ultra-religious putz steeped in delusion.
Oh well, what the hell, we might just as well sit back and watch the school board vote and then the Alamo Clown Show, if indeed they demonstrate themselves to be entirely brain-dead. 
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2009 : 18:13:14 [Permalink]
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Should the new Texas anti-science standards be made the rule, and it appears they may, I sincerely hope that there will be teachers who are willing to stand up for science, and put their jobs on the line, Scopes fashion.
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9688 Posts |
 Posted - 03/24/2009 : 02:09:33 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by filthy
Then look at the Sunni/Shite idiocy that's been around since the overdue demise of the "prophet" Muhammad -- another ultra-religious putz steeped in delusion.
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Sunny shite indeed. (shit stinks even worse in the sun)
Filthy, I think that misspelling was far more funnier than you intended... 
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Dr. Mabuse - "When the going gets tough, the tough get Duct-tape..."
Dr. Mabuse whisper.mp3
"Equivocation is not just a job, for a creationist it's a way of life..." Dr. Mabuse
Support American Troops in Iraq:
Send them unarmed civilians for target practice..
Collateralmurder. |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2009 : 02:29:58 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Dr. Mabuse
Originally posted by filthy
Then look at the Sunni/Shite idiocy that's been around since the overdue demise of the "prophet" Muhammad -- another ultra-religious putz steeped in delusion.
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Sunny shite indeed. (shit stinks even worse in the sun)
Filthy, I think that misspelling was far more funnier than you intended...
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Hadn't realized I'd done it.....  It's a chuckle though, innit?
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
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Simon
SFN Regular
USA
1992 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2009 : 07:40:36 [Permalink]
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It is worse than that, from what I have read.
Texas being so big a market, most editors use it as the benchmark. So, if these Bs passes, it could potentially affect all textbooks in the US (and possibly a big chunk of North America). |
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
Carl Sagan - 1996 |
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River Otter
Skeptic Friend
USA
67 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2009 : 08:49:22 [Permalink]
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I posted this artical over at Atheist Nation to get some feedback from them too.
One guy, that lives in Texas, replied with this.
From Bhig3 at AN.
Seriously though, this stuff made the local papers months ago and the papers all (yes, ALL) ridiculed the s*** out of them with pictures to boot. Most of them did not graduate college and I believe one did not graduate high school.
It has no chance of passing, the school board is heavily weighted with actual science lovers. |
He then replied to a high school age member,
| Well, if it passes I'll need to learn REAL science from the internet. |
If necessary, I'll teach it to you myself. |
Kinda has a "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" ring to it.
I hope Bhig3 is right, or we all might be teaching real science underground.
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I am not ashamed to confess that I am ignorant of what I do not know. -Cicero
Brother, You say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agree, as you can all read the book. -Sagoyewatha,(Red Jacket) - Chief and great orator of the six nations. |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
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Randy
SFN Regular
USA
1990 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2009 : 03:53:41 [Permalink]
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| http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/25/texas.evolution.teaching/index.html |
"We are all connected; to each other biologically, to the earth chemically, to the rest of the universe atomically."
"So you're made of detritus [from exploded stars]. Get over it. Or better yet, celebrate it. After all, what nobler thought can one cherish than that the universe lives within us all?"
-Neil DeGrasse Tyson |
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Simon
SFN Regular
USA
1992 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2009 : 08:34:55 [Permalink]
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| Are Ken Miller or Eugenie Scott invited to appear in front of the board? |
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
Carl Sagan - 1996 |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
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Simon
SFN Regular
USA
1992 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2009 : 11:10:53 [Permalink]
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Eugenie Scott is one smart lady. I love how, at the end, she just revealed the religious agenda behind the evolution denialists.
'But you are not saying that the 'weaknesses of Evolution are a Creationist excuse, are you?' Indeed. |
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
Carl Sagan - 1996 |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2009 : 11:17:00 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Simon
Eugenie Scott is one smart lady. I love how, at the end, she just revealed the religious agenda behind the evolution denialists.
'But you are not saying that the 'weaknesses of Evolution are a Creationist excuse, are you?' Indeed.
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Yeah, I caught that. That lady can defend my science any day.
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
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Creationist bullshit lives on in TX
