It's a sad day for the United States. For as much progress we have made, it is obvious the age of enlightenment has come to a close.
A Kansas school board has redefined the state's science curriculum to include intelligent design, which is an obvious attempt to include creationism and downplay evolution. How soon before we overturn the efforts of John Scopes, whose famous 'Scopes Monkey Trial' in Tennessee in 1925, and return to a nation that bans Darwin's theories?
Janet Waugh, a Democrat from Kansas City who is on the board said, "We're becoming a laughingstock of not only the nation, but of the world." Well, Janet, the world, which had up until now been watching Paris burn with a degree of Schadenfreude, agrees.
If this all wasn't bad enough, the Great State of Texas has decided to include a ban on gay marriage in the state Consititution. The effect is that the judiciary will have no ability to interpret the previous Constitution in such a way as to allow gay marriage, as Massachusettes had done.
I had overheard a few conversations of people talking about how they were planning to leave the state. Sad.
You'd think that tolerance and acceptance would be values taught to the conservatives and strongly religious. Instead they are propogating fear, hatred, and relying on power and manipulation. Is this what they want to be teaching their children?
UPDATE: Pennsylvania won back a few points for the USA, as voters ousted the school board members who had supported the inclusion of a statement about intelligent design in biology classes. One citizen of Pennsylvania, Jill Reiter, said, "My kids believe in God. I believe in God. But I don't think it belongs in the science curriculum the way the school district is presenting it." Thank you Jill! Would it be too much to ask that you spend a little time in Kansas, sharing your beliefs with people? I'll pay for your flight!
Posted by brian at November 9, 2005 02:11 AM | TrackBack