My intelligently designed petition

[struct24]

Attention Creationists of Austin, Texas:

You are hereby warned that a petition will soon be circulating to create a ballot initiative that when passed will prohibit the teaching of pseudoscientific or quasireligious materials as hard science, and will also forbid warning/disclaimer stickers that fraudulently cast doubt on legitimate scientific theory. You are also further cautioned that if you challenge this petition, you will be publically informed that if you really had scientific proof of the veracity of "intelligent design" or that the Earth is really less than 10,000 years old, then your evidence would be worth ONE MILLION DOLLARS, as has been succinctly confirmed in a recent e-mail to me from the most esteemed Kramer! Proposition 1 to save our schoolchildren, coming soon to Austin, backed by the JREF Paranormal Challenge. Thanks Mr. Randi!

 

[rwguinn]

You are in the tounge of the buckle of the bible belt. You stand the same chance as a snowball does in Lubbock on July 19...
These folks can't even recognize the fact that the creation myth they tout is in the minority, even among "religous" people...

Roger
Ft. Worth

 

[struct24]

You are in the tounge of the buckle of the bible belt. You stand the same chance as a snowball does in Lubbock on July 19...
These folks can't even recognize the fact that the creation myth they tout is in the minority, even among "religous" people...

Yes sir, and not only that, but I'm a transplanted carpetbagger. I must be nuts -- but someone has to make a stand, dad gummit.

As strongly as I believe in my cause, I wouldn't be dumb enough to push for a statewide resolution, and even though Austin's the "liberal" part of Texas (meaning it's centrist, as opposed to the rest of the state which leans more right-wing than Mussolini) I know full well that I face an uphill battle.

However, given that Austin's a college town and a high-tech center, I think I can get the requisite number of signatures (which IINM is 36,000) to at least get the proposition on the ballot. I sure don't want to confront the fundamentalist wingnuts, and I'm not going to set out to pick a fight with them, but I'm not naive: I'm sure they'll go after me and whatever compatriots I can recruit. At least now I'm armed with the million dollar Randi Rebuttal.

Like I said though, I'm really not doing this to stick it to anyone. I'm doing this because science in this country is under attack, and I'm doing this because schoolchildren are being despicably targeted for anti-scientific, anti-intellectual brainwashing.

 

[Ashles]

Then go for it.

Good luck.

 

[struct24]

Then go for it.

Good luck.

Thanks. I'll need it.

 

[Francois Tremblay]

In another other country, it might be debatable... but in a Christian fundamentalist country like the US ? The snowball is not just in Hell, it's in Satan's very own convection oven.

 

[struct24]

In another other country, it might be debatable... but in a Christian fundamentalist country like the US ? The snowball is not just in Hell, it's in Satan's very own convection oven.

The funny thing is, back in the 50's and 60's, the right-wingers were all gung-ho about science and technology. The perception was that the Russkies were going to out-develop and out-innovate us if we didn't aggressively recruit boys (not girls though, this was the 50's and 60's after all) into scientific and technological careers.

Yet somehow that hasn't carried over into today's anti-terrorist zeitgeist. Is America really so weak and helpless that our only recourse against terrorists is to out-PRAY the bastards?

I think not. Here's one example that I hope will appeal to the wingnuts to illustrate why this fight is so important: if we're going to combat the threat of attack from a biological agent, we need top-notch epidemiologists. Now one of the critical areas an epidemiologist has to know about in order to formulate counteragents is the means by which disease organisms mutate in response to their environment. Hey, wait a second, that sounds familiar! Wasn't I taught about something like that in grade school? Where does that come from... oh yeah, I remember now! DARWIN'S PRINCIPLE OF NATURAL SELECTION!!!

Of course that's just one of many possible examples of why it's so important that our schoolchildren's heads be filled with sound scientific knowledge instead of "alternative" nonsense. To push this angle, I'll be promoting my initiative as the "Defense of Science Act".

 

[Nihilanth]

Well, I really hope you manage to do SOMETHING, even if it is only to get something on the ballot that's later defeated. Anything to raise awareness, even though you're probably not going to convince anyone. These people (creationists) have so much invested in their beliefs and ideas that's it's no longer a question of convincing, or arguing. They shut down when you talk to them about it, and actively fight against thinking about what you're saying.
What I don't understand is the argument that the end of the world is pretty close (any day now. Really), and it's more important than ever to keep crazy old evolution out of the textbooks. If we're actually living in the "end times", then why does it even matter? Why don't the crazy christian fundies all barricade themselves in a bunker or something and let the rest of us get on with the business of being damned?

 

[struct24]

Anything to raise awareness, even though you're probably not going to convince anyone. These people (creationists) have so much invested in their beliefs and ideas that's it's no longer a question of convincing, or arguing. They shut down when you talk to them about it, and actively fight against thinking about what you're saying.

The creationists aren't the ones I'm worried about. They're too far gone into the realm of insanity, and there's no way to pull them back. You know what, though? It's their right to be lunatics. We live in a free country, and so long as the fundies don't harm anyone else, they can say and do whatever they want.

The problem is that the religious wingnuts consistently cross the line and try to actively do harm to the rest of us. They want to impose their warped moralistic notions on everyone so that they can control every aspect of our lives including our sexuality, our reproduction, our medical care, our speech, our entertainment, and our education. Now they're attacking schoolchildren in an effort to brainwash every child in America.

Well, that's the last straw. Despicably, these crazies are trying to hide behind the liberal notions of "pluralism" and "tolerance". That dog won't hunt -- asking me to be tolerant of "alternative" science in public schools is like asking me to be tolerant of altar boys being raped by clergy. These nutcases have to be called out and exposed for what they are.

If Austin is crammed full of creationist fruitcakes who are immune to reason, then my initiative won't have a prayer (if you'll forgive the expression). However, if there are enough rational people who can be reasoned with, then I have hope.

 

[gnome]

Well, that's the last straw. Despicably, these crazies are trying to hide behind the liberal notions of "pluralism" and "tolerance".

More to the point, by their slick "LOVE IS HATE" orwellian doublethink, they are attacking tolerance itself by trying to change its meaning.

What is "pluralism" anyway?

 

[struct24]

More to the point, by their slick "LOVE IS HATE" orwellian doublethink, they are attacking tolerance itself by trying to change its meaning.

What is "pluralism" anyway?

The American Heritage Dictionary gives four definitions. IMHO the commonly understand definition is number two:

2a. A condition in which numerous distinct ethnic, religious, or cultural groups are present and tolerated within a society.
2b. The belief that such a condition is desirable or socially beneficial.

However, when I double-checked the definition of pluralism, I was highly amused to discover an alternate definition of which I was not aware, and which actually pretty aptly applies to the creationist/ID loons:

4b. The belief that no single explanatory system or view of reality can account for all the phenomena of life.

 

[Questioninggeller]

I was under the impression Austin is a very liberal and well-educated place in Texas?

 

[gnome]

2a. A condition in which numerous distinct ethnic, religious, or cultural groups are present and tolerated within a society.
2b. The belief that such a condition is desirable or socially beneficial.

Ok, that's even more frightening... how do they intend to fight pluralism?

 

[struct24]

Ok, that's even more frightening... how do they intend to fight pluralism?

You missed my point -- they're not fighting it, they're hiding behind it, like wolves in sheep's clothing.

 

[struct24]

I was under the impression Austin is a very liberal and well-educated place in Texas?

It's more liberal and more educated than the rest of Texas, being a college town and all, but that merely puts Austin in the mainstream.

 

[nabiscothejerd]

I know that I live in alabama and this is a red state, how can i go about doing the same thing that you are doing. I realize that I do not just need to be sitting in my desk chair reading and clapping your thread, I want to do something to bring attention to it here.

When I went to Mortimer Jordon High School in Morris, Alabama, every day they talked about God and how evolution is dead wrong. The teacher said and I quote "The state has decided that you should believe evolution and that god does not exist". My problem with that is that the state did not decide that you believe in evolution, their purpose was to present the most credible science to the beginning of life. Now the reason that we don't speak of religion in schools is that they're is no evidence for it. That science class pissed me off, they all told me to shut up or go to hell (since I was going anyway, being a polyatheist). I was harrassed for being non-christian just like the people in india with the christian missionaries. To me that is not right, since I had to actually fight somebody since they would not stop harassing me3.. I had to copy the science book with no less than 3000 words in one day for causing trouble, but I decided to do the evolution chapter (this was good for I programmed myself with more scientific theory and not religious hypothesis

Definitions for those christians in my own words

Theory - a hypothesis that has been tested and applied as the more conceivable idea

Hypothesis - a idea created out of something or nothing at all or nothing with a little bit of something that has not been tested.

Anyways, whatever I can do would be acceptable. If I could sign your petition (not possible I would think), create my own petition, or something. What can I do?

 

[struct24]

Thank you so much for you kind words. It's heartening to know that there's other principled rationalists out there who also want to fight the good fight.

I wish I had experience and expertise that I could share, but the truth is that this will be my first stab at spearheading a social activist initiative. I have notions about how I'm going to go about this, but those notions might be completely misguided. I'm happy to share my thoughts, but I may very well be way off base.

Here's my first hypothesis (and as you so aptly pointed out, my ideas are hypotheses and therefore have not yet been put to the test): A fight that is merely against something is a battle that will inevitably be lost. I offer as an example the 2004 Presidential Election. The Kerry campaign numbskulls played not to lose instead of to win. The anti-Bush attacks were vociferous, but Kerry failed to coalesce as a viable alternative to the incumbent. By trying to be all things to all people, Kerry wound up being nothing to no one.

Ignoring or dismissing the reactionary right (which is what legitimate science is doing right now with the Kansas School Board kangaroo court) won't make the problem go away. Simply taking a stance against fundamentalism is insufficient. We rationalists must step up to the plate and make a proactive case for Science.

I've decided therefore that calling this ballot initiative the "Defense of Science Act" is a mistake. It needs to be called something like the "Excellence in Science Education Act", and it needs to part of a grassroots pro-science movement. I'm thinking that a community celebration of science and scientists would be the way to promote this initiative. The heinous negatives of fundamentalism need to be refuted, but at the same time, the wondrous accomplishments of those engaged in scientific and technological pursuits ought to be lauded.

At the moment, I'm researching exactly what the current situation is with the Austin Independent School District curriculum. I've put in a query about Biology curriculum standards to the AISD ombudsman, who has forwarded my message on to the Curriculum committee. She says that they are "drafting" a response. We'll see if they give me the time of day.

NBJ, if you or anyone else on the board has any suggestions for me, please be kind enough to post them. I'd be grateful if you would.

 

[ranson]

If you'll post up a copy of your petition/initiative when you get doen, I might see what I can do with it around here . . . I'm in NC, a rather red state, but a lot of the government is actually pretty moderate. The rest are fundy whackjobs, but there's a lot of science-oriented business around my area, and it could be worth a shot.

I'd encourage most everyone to try the same.

 

[BPScooter]

FWIW I think a recent prank in California involved the overnight replacement on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with names of scientists. Since I read about this on the Museum of Hoaxes site, I'm not sure, but it sounds like something some Caltech folks could pull off. Replace "Douglas Fairbanks" with "Richard Feynman," etc.

OK, here's the post from museumofhoaxes.com:

http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/P14/

http://pr.caltech.edu/media/Press_Releases/PR12689.html

Scientists Walk of Fame
I'm a little late on this one, but better late than never. On May 4 Caltech students transformed the Hollywood Walk of Fame into the "Illustrious Scientists Walk of Fame": Students literally covered over 500 of the celebrity stars on Hollywood Blvd. with prestigious scientists such as Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, David Baltimore, Richard Feynman, Madame Currie... The prank was meant to coincide with the Commemorative U.S. Postage Stamp of preeminent Caltech physicist Richard P. Feynman.
Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (7)
Category: Pranks, Science

 

[Dr Adequate]

And endorsements from senior US politicians are already pouring in.

"Of course like every other man of intelligence and education I do believe in organic evolution. It surprises me at this late date such questions should be raised." --- Woodrow Wilson.

"Thank Heaven I sat at the feet of Darwin and Huxley." --- Theodore Roosevelt

Also, you have 72 American Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry, and physiology or medicine on your side. Weigh every word of this: it's pure gold.

"Teaching religious ideas mislabeled as science is detrimental to scientific education: It sets up a false conflict between science and religion, misleads our youth about the nature of scientific inquiry, and thereby compromises our ability to respond to the problems of an increasingly technological world. Our capacity to cope with problems of food production, health care, and even national defense will be jeopardized if we deliberately strip our citizens of the power to distinguish between the phenomena of nature and supernatural articles of faith. "Creation-science" simply has no place in the public-school science classroom."

--- Luis W. Alvarez, Carl D. Anderson, Christian B. Anfinsen, Julius Axelrod, David Baltimore, John Bardeen, Paul Berg, Hans A. Bethe, Konrad Bloch, Nicolaas Bloembergen, Michael S. Brown, Herbert C. Brown, Melvin Calvin, S. Chandrasekhar, Leon N. Cooper, Allan Cormack, Andre Cournand, Francis Crick, Renato Dulbecco, Leo Esaki, Val L. Fitch, William A. Fowler, Murray Gell-Mann, Ivar Giaever, Walter Gilbert, Donald A. Glaser, Sheldon Lee Glashow, Joseph L. Goldstein, Roger Guillemin, Roald Hoffmann, Robert Hofstadter, Robert W. Holley, David H. Hubel, Charles B. Huggins, H. Gobind Khorana, Arthur Kornberg, Polykarp Kusch, Willis E. Lamb, Jr., William Lipscomb, Salvador E. Luria, Barbara McClintock, Bruce Merrifield, Robert S. Mulliken, Daniel Nathans, Marshall Nirenberg, John H. Northrop, Severo Ochoa, George E. Palade, Linus Pauling, Arno A. Penzias, Edward M. Purcell, Isidor I. Rabi, Burton Richter, Frederick Robbins, J. Robert Schrieffer, Glenn T. Seaborg, Emilio Segre, Hamilton O. Smith, George D. Snell, Roger Sperry, Henry Taube, Howard M. Temin, Samuel C. C. Ting, Charles H. Townes, James D. Watson, Steven Weinberg, Thomas H. Weller, Eugene P. Wigner, Kenneth G. Wilson, Robert W. Wilson, Rosalyn Yalow and Chen Ning Yang.

Isn't it nice to be popular?