Every once in a while I'm reminded that 30% of this country still think GWB is doing a bang-up job.
This article reminded me that Seattle, consistently ranked high among the top cities in the world for the education level, income, and overall coolness of its residents is somehow home of the "Discovery Institute."
We have the Discovery Institute to thank for concentrating the scattered groups who, for no good reason, think that evolution is the cancer destroying humanity.
Let's hear no more about poor, anti-evolutionists being persecuted by all those atheist scientists:
What happens in Texas does not stay in Texas: the state is one of the country's biggest buyers of textbooks, and publishers are loath to produce different versions of the same material. The ideas that work their way into education here will surface in classrooms throughout the country.
America was born out of the chaos that the wars of religion created in Europe in the 17th century. Separating the state from religion is not an endorsement of Christianity, its a recognition that there are no more bloody, fanatical, destructive people in the world than religious people. Temporary alliances of "Christian" vs. "Muslim" only last until shiite and sunni realize they are shoulder to shoulder with guns that should be pointed at each other. My only consolation is that Baptists, Catholics, Evangelicals, and the rest will turn on each other the minute they get any victory.
My only fear is that they'll destroy science in the meantime.
Evolution as a principle is not disputed in the scientific mainstream, where the term "theory" does not mean a hunch, but an explanation backed by abundant observation, and where gaps in knowledge are not seen as grounds for doubt but points for future understanding. Over time, research has strengthened the basic tenets of evolution, especially as advances in molecular genetics have allowed biologists to read the history recorded in the DNA of animals and plants.
...
Dr. McLeroy believes that Earth's appearance is a recent geologic event -- thousands of years old, not 4.5 billion. "I believe a lot of incredible things," he said, "The most incredible thing I believe is the Christmas story. That little baby born in the manger was the god that created the universe."
But Dr. McLeroy says his rejection of evolution -- "I just don't think it's true or it's ever happened" -- is not based on religious grounds. Courts have clearly ruled that teachings of faith are not allowed in a science classroom, but when he considers the case for evolution, Dr. McLeroy said, "it's just not there."
The "Dr." in his name is from 4 years of dental school. This is the chairman of the Texas Board of Education.
Way to go, Texas. Moving to Seattle soon?
