THE CULTURE WARS! THEY JUST WON'T GO AWAY!
They're just not happy with pushing their ridiculous and idiotic creationism in the science classes in the public schools, even though federal courts have ruled against them on this. They just can't help being compelled to ingrain us with their Jesus moral superiority everywhere, even though most of them practice nothing of what they preach. But oh wait, I remember, they're The Chosen over there at C Street. It's not enough that they can say just about anything, anytime they want about the Almighty, Jesus, Christianity, salvation, sinners and all the other assorted sh*t. Well, okay, it is their First Amendment right and I easily agree with this right, but can anyone somehow come up with a law to pass to get them to STFU without it being unconstitutional? It's not enough that they get tax exemptions on all the monies that they collect to run their religious criminal organizations. Again, the Family on C Street. I personally see no reason why these religious organizations are allowed tax exemptions. Preaching politics from the pulpit isn't a violation of anyone's First Amendment right. But it is a violation of contract law if they do it as a 501(c)(3).
So now, it's on to History.
And we know from history, they will not be happy until all of us are brainwashed into their reality-absent, logic-twisting, make-things-up-as-you-go-along religion-wingnutism. It's about POWER. And to make sure they keep it, they are hell-bent with intent into child abuse - to go after those who are the most vulnerable.
Where can one even begin with all of this clusterf^ck of insanity? What can be done to keep these in-your-face religion people out of our face? And of course this is all playing out in - where else but Texas.
Let me begin with all of the good, decent, sensible hard-working residents there in Texas, who are probably just as stupefied by all of this as probably most of us will be, I know you're out there. Please accept any apologies in advance if I make any reference that may make anyone think that Texas is a stupid state or something like that. I'll attempt to be careful. But unfortunately, it appears as though the majority of the populace (or at least the majority of the voters) of Texas is intent on taking you on the ride down the toilet with them. I'm almost certain that you're trying to find your own way off of this ride. I say all the best with that.
So anyhow, now the story. Texas nit-wit successionist nutcase Governor Rick Perry (who, honestly, is becoming more and more Michele Bachman-y every day) appointed this guy (come on, this is serious, please try not laughing) -
Doctor Don McLeroy (a dentist) as chair of the State Board of Education. Doctor Don McLeroy does not believe in evolution, and has come to the board prepared with the Wedge Document. In case your wondering, the Wedge Document is a recently exposed internal memo from one of our favorite organizations, The Discovery Institute. In this memo, the Wedge implies that the court cases - in Dover, Pennsylvania (Kitzmiller v. Dover) and in Cobb County, Georgia, (Selman v. Cobb) where two different federal judges banned the teaching of Intelligent Design (creationism) in the science classes of public schools - have no bearing in Texas if they teach creationism in the science classes of their public schools.
So we have this from Interrogating Nature:
In 2003 Mr. McLeroy led efforts by creationism or "intelligent design" proponents to water down discussion of evolution in proposed new biology textbooks. He was one of only four board members who voted against biology textbooks that year that included a full scientific account of evolutionary theory.
In 2004, Mr. McLeroy voted to approve "abstinence-only" health textbooks that failed to include any information about responsible pregnancy and STD prevention, despite state curriculum standards requiring that students learn such information.
and then this from readingeagle.co:
The board chairman stated he does not believe in evolutionary theory and contended the Earth's appearance is a recent geologic event, only thousands of years old, rather than the 4.5 billion as scientists claim. What fossil records? ...
The concept of introducing intelligent design as an alternative to the scientifically tested theory of evolution is found in the Wedge Document, which was developed by the Discovery Institute's Center For Renewal of Science and Culture.
...the goal of the Wedge Document is to replace science as currently practiced with theistic and Christian science...
Is there a jim dandy to the rescue here? Of course since the religion repugs are The Chosen, they don't think that federal rulings in Pennsylvania or Georgia have anything to do with their sacred Texas.
But now it gets even better. If somehow a judge were to stop them from teaching creationism in the science classes of the public schools, they now have an effective back-up plan.
As per the Wall Street Journal:
The fight over school curriculum in Texas, recently focused on biology, has entered a new arena, with a brewing debate over how much faith belongs in American history classrooms.
The Texas Board of Education, which recently approved new science standards that made room for creationist critiques of evolution, is revising the state's social studies curriculum. In early recommendations from outside experts appointed by the board, a divide has opened over how central religious theology should be to the teaching of history.
Three reviewers, appointed by social conservatives, have recommended revamping the K-12 curriculum to emphasize the roles of the Bible, the Christian faith and the civic virtue of religion in the study of American history.
And of course one of the reviewers appointed by the board is this guy (alright already - laugh) -
the Reverend Peter Marshall, of Peter Marshall Ministries. Continuing with the WSJ:
"We're in an all-out moral and spiritual civil war for the soul of America, and the record of American history is right at the heart of it," said Rev. Peter Marshall, a Christian minister and one of the reviewers appointed by the conservative camp
The conservative reviewers say they believe that children must learn that America's founding principles are biblical. For instance, they say the separation of powers set forth in the Constitution stems from a scriptural understanding of man's fall and inherent sinfulness, or "radical depravity," which means he can be governed only by an intricate system of checks and balances.
The curriculum, they say, should clearly present Christianity as an overall force for good -- and a key reason for American exceptionalism, the notion that the country stands above and apart.
WTF -- "radical depravity????"
and this from the Guardian-UK:
Another of the experts is Reverend Peter Marshall, who heads his own Christian ministry and preaches that Hurricane Katrina and defeat in the Vietnam war were God's punishment for sexual promiscuity and tolerance of homosexuals. Marshall recommended that children be taught about the "motivational role" of the Bible and Christianity in establishing the original colonies that later became the US.
"In light of the overwhelming historical evidence of the influence of the Christian faith in the founding of America, it is simply not up to acceptable academic standards that throughout the social studies (curriculum standards) I could only find one reference to the role of religion in America's past," Marshall wrote in his submission.
Marshall later told the Wall Street Journal that the struggle over the history curriculum is part of a wider battle. "We're in an all-out moral and spiritual civil war for the soul of America, and the record of American history is right at the heart of it," he said.
Now, how f^ck^d up is this? Teaching this contradictory twisted-logic sh^t to inquiring, yet fundamentally logical young minds, has to qualify as some form of child abuse. Very sad.
I hesitate to add that the board has also appointed some 'librul' representation as well, but how far do you think their input will really go here?
Anyone hear Michele Bachman spinning her head around in circles about re-education camps?
The Texas school curriculum, if it goes for as it looks, probably makes about as much sense as Liz Cheney and her recent tube appearances about her not knowing what her father did in his underground bunkers, but she knows he didn't do anything illegal. (like huh? if she doesn't know what he did how can she know if...?)
So what do we know? The kids will be the losers. Texas will be spending needless monies defending lawsuits. And if the wingnuts can't do what they want in the science classes, then just shift over to the history classes.
I shudder to think, but here we end the diary and begin the life of a Texas public school student in their first history class:
Texas classroom
History 101 textbook
Chapter 1
a. about 6000 bc, Our Lord Almighty God creates the earth and started the Holy Bible.
b. Adam and Eve
i. riding dinosaurs
Chapter 2
a. the Holy Bible
b. Leviticus
c. Judges
d. The Ten Commandments
e. Jonah and the belly of the whale
Chapter 3
a, Jesus our Lord is born
b. How Jesus is his own father
c. the Virgin Mary
i ABSTINENCE ONLY EDUCATION
Chapter 4 God bless America
a, Shining city on the hill
b. exceptionalism
c. Republicans - THE CHOSEN
d. shhhh.... abortion and teh gays
e. Armageddon and the Rapture