KY Governor's Response to ID Criticism

prewitt81

Notoriously Glorious
prewitt81
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A friend of mine recently sent a letter to our Governor, Ernie Fletcher, which can be read at http://www.brentnorris.net/blog/?p=183

Much to my surprise, Governor Fletcher (or perhaps his PR department) responded. His response is also on my friend's blog: http://www.brentnorris.net/blog/?p=191

Apparently, skeptics, atheists, agnostics, etc., fail to "accept [. . .] self-evident truths that nearly 90% of the population understands [sic]". By opposing ID, we "undermine the foundation of our nation."

Am I wrong to be outraged?
 
prewitt81 said:
A friend of mine recently sent a letter to our Governor, Ernie Fletcher, which can be read at http://www.brentnorris.net/blog/?p=183

Much to my surprise, Governor Fletcher (or perhaps his PR department) responded. His response is also on my friend's blog: http://www.brentnorris.net/blog/?p=191

Apparently, skeptics, atheists, agnostics, etc., fail to "accept [. . .] self-evident truths that nearly 90% of the population understands [sic]". By opposing ID, we "undermine the foundation of our nation."

Am I wrong to be outraged?
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If you were to spend your time getting outraged at stupid polititians, (or those more interested in maintaining their voting base), you would have little time for anything else.
 
I would respond by asking this person what "truths" are they that he believes 90% of the population understand. If it's foundation on Christianity then perhaps a response with whatever Ammendment or Constitution it is that describes the separation of church and state. Obviously he thinks that if he believes stuff then everyone believes the same stuff. That fallacy has a name too, I seem to recall. In short, he's probably an ignoramus.
 
Dear Mr. Fletcher:

I would like to congratulate you and your fine state of Kentucky for introducing Intelligent Design into your school's curriculum. The reason that I am so happy is that I am a Canadian with two children to worry about. Each time an American state decides to roll back to medieval level education the greater the opportunities for my children and other Canadian children. Every year we hear how bio-technology is going to be big and I think it will. Children who can do science and even understand how antibiotics can make bacteria stronger will have a significant edge over those who think that god did it and that prayer can heal the sick.

Thank you for strengthening the future of my nation by weakening your own.

Sincerely
Jim

edit: Changed viruses to bacteria. Man do I feel stoopid. :blush:
 
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jimlintott said:
Dear Mr. Fletcher:

I would like to congratulate you and your fine state of Kentucky for introducing Intelligent Design into your school's curriculum. The reason that I am so happy is that I am a Canadian with two children to worry about. Each time an American state decides to roll back to medieval level education the greater the opportunities for my children and other Canadian children. Every year we hear how bio-technology is going to be big and I think it will. Children who can do science and even understand how antibiotics can make viruses stronger will have a significant edge over those who think that god did it and that prayer can heal the sick.

Thank you for strengthening the future of my nation by weakening your own.

Sincerely
Jim
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HA! Good point. Where was it that I read that most manufacturing jobs are leaving the Midwest but going overseas because most states in the South have people who are learning deficient? Not a fair (or wholly inaccurate) generalization, but I highly doubt that ID would really take off if we informed our less enlightened brethren that their children would be working under several highly trained individuals who might not be white God-fearing Christians, but Asian, Indian, Hispanic, and various other nationalities? And that they'll be paid more because they know science and have enough faith in their religion/lack thereof to do both?

It surprises how stupid some Americans are when it comes to globalization. What, do they honestly think that America is really going to be this mythic Number One because we 'won' a war seventy years ago? You have to admire the outright stupidity that goes into this bunch. I would feel sorry for them but I don't have the patience. When they're the ones begging for welfare after they learn having a high school diploma isn't optional (and, alas, only the beginning of getting a livable wage), I suppose we can laugh at them for finally going full circle. Ignorance only gets one so far.

You know, sometimes I feel bad when I rag on the South but I went down there last summer to see a friend of mine and...there are good people down there, but some of them are so rock-stupid it boggles the imagination. I just don't get it at all. Perhaps I shouldn't, perhaps it's just too sad to really fully understand.
 
Mmm ... I love being British.

DarwinTenPoundNote.jpeg


We'll give you all political asylum when the time comes.
 
Dr Adequate said:
Mmm ... I love being British.

DarwinTenPoundNote.jpeg


We'll give you all political asylum when the time comes.
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English money is prettier and classier than American dollars any day, you have that on us definitely. I would certainly enjoy exile in England for many reasons, just hopefully someone will have "cured" PM Tony Blair of his homeopathy notions before that time ;)
 
Your friend is either a liar, constructing the letter for personal reasons, or the governor (or his PR lackey/whoever wrote the letter) is an illiterate biscuit-head. It reads like a criticism of education from a poorly educated composer.

The first reply post in that thread suggested the letter is from lawyers. Having had to read too many legal letters, I'd suggest that not even "C student" lawyers would write that poorly.

Something's wrong here either with your friend... or the government of a state :eek:

I fear that the world's best-armed power is going to fill up with poorly educated individuals. As Zbu opined, the U.S. might not be on top forever. The U.S. is so well-armed, however, that as someone else tries to become number 1, it won't be pretty. :(
 
Since 1970, state law specifically allowes public schools to teach, “creationism” in conjunction with the theory of evolution. In 1990, under the landmark Kentucky Education Refore Act, control of curriculum now rests with local districts. I urged school district to utilize this freedom and empower students with all possible considerations regarding the origin of matter and species. It will be up to the teachers and local school officials, however, to make this decision.
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This is plain wrong. Since 1986 SCOTUS has decided teaching creationism is unconstitutional. Given the Dover precedent he's playing a bad game of chicken.
 
Jimbo07 said:
Your friend is either a liar, constructing the letter for personal reasons, or the governor (or his PR lackey/whoever wrote the letter) is an illiterate biscuit-head. It reads like a criticism of education from a poorly educated composer.
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I understand being skeptical, but that's just mean-spirited. I can produce a scanned copy of the letter for you, but then you can claim that I'm a liar who makes fake Kentucky State letterhead, right?

Oh well. I can take the heat.
 
jimlintott said:
Dear Mr. Fletcher:

I would like to congratulate you and your fine state of Kentucky for introducing Intelligent Design into your school's curriculum. The reason that I am so happy is that I am a Canadian with two children to worry about. Each time an American state decides to roll back to medieval level education the greater the opportunities for my children and other Canadian children. Every year we hear how bio-technology is going to be big and I think it will. Children who can do science and even understand how antibiotics can make bacteria stronger will have a significant edge over those who think that god did it and that prayer can heal the sick.

Thank you for strengthening the future of my nation by weakening your own.

Sincerely
Jim

(snip)
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Good one. I'm in Windsor, right on the border with Detroit. I've said this myself, just not as well.
 
Dr Adequate said:
Mmm ... I love being British.

DarwinTenPoundNote.jpeg


We'll give you all political asylum when the time comes.
Click to expand...

unfortunately, while we may have Darwin on our banknotes, we still have Government funded schools teaching 6 day "special" creationism.

None of that halfarsed ID nonsense in old blighty. :(
 
Here in Ontario, We have the Public school board and the 'Separate' (read, Catholic) school board. Funny that the Catholic kids get a better science education than the public school students, eh?
 
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