Political fury.

[ysobelle]

Not only has Bush made us the ugly, bullying stepchild of the diplomatic world, he's now made us the laughingstock of the scientific world.

Intelligent Design? What is this, Tennessee, 1925?

I'm so frustrated and sickened I could cry. Thankfully, I know I'll get angry and active later.

Ironically, the current track on the iPod is Ministry's "New World Order," with Bush Sr. endlessly repeating the phrase "New world order!" Is this what he envisioned? G-d. I used to think he was a wretched President.

Comments

[kaige-of-ct.livejournal.com]

I am continuously...amazed and ashamed.

[daemionfox.livejournal.com]

Teaching Creationism and Intelligent Design was struck down once already (In Alabama or Arkansas I think) as being unconstitutional on grounds that it violates Seperation of Church and State.

Shouldn't be too hard to strike it down if it gets pushed in.

[skiafoxmorgan.livejournal.com]

I missed something in my not watching tv or reading the paper phase.

what happened?

[kylecassidy.livejournal.com]

i have a theory that the universe exists as a prize in a gigantic box of celestial cracker jacks. i would like this to be tought in schools. it is, of course, a theory, and evolution, as you know, is only a theory as well. so mine must be just as good.

[well-artesia.livejournal.com]

For me all the political babble became just a lot of blahblahblahblahblahblah years ago... and frankly, it's possible that that's all the world hears when Bush talks lately, too.

I'm not clear on the context of your comment either, but it sounds as if he's made HIMSELF laughingstock of the scientific community - I think within the scientific field/industry as a whole, America is still forefront of almost all topics - although, as Trista and I were discussing on Friday, we might be slipping in the stem-cell research area because of the political restrictions. THAT sort of interference REALLY annoys me, because it prevents real progress.

The Intelligent Design debate seems to me to be a bit like the Flag Burning debate - a lot of words about something mostly unable to be legislated: People will teach their kids what they want to teach their kids about religion or patriotism... and their kids will follow their parents for the most part, regardless of what the teacher says at school.

Just my 2 cents. :)

[autumnyte.livejournal.com]

My only reassurance is that societies often backslide a bit, trying to cling to their traditions when they're on the brink of major advancement. Some people are scared of technology because it's new and unknown. I think that's where some of the current backlash against science is coming from.

And advancement always prevails.

[meekay.livejournal.com]

Thankfully, I know I'll get angry and active later.

You should come meet Chuck Pennacchio at my house on Sunday!

[darthvenereal.livejournal.com]

and yet we keep voting him in, we had two chances and blew it both times, why is that?

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

Except we didn't-- not the first time, at least.

After that, don't ask me. I'm a Blue State girl.

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

Bush said this morning-- after ramming his choice for Ambassador to the UN through-- that he believes US schools should teach Intelligent Design along with evolution.

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

See above comment. Gah.

[kaige-of-ct.livejournal.com]

Me too. Hrmph :-/

[(Anonymous)]

No large mention of it on the BBC News website.

They seem more interested in Al Gore launching a TV channel. *shrug*

[kylecassidy.livejournal.com]

it's not really like that at all. i don't think any scientist has a problem with a parent teaching their kid intelligent design or saying god built the earth in 7 days -- the problem is the government teaching intelligent design in schools, which is an attemt at teaching religion via a curve ball, and it's a theory that you have to drive pretty far into the fringes of wackoland before you find a scientist who supports it.

[well-artesia.livejournal.com]

Relevant article here: http://www.newyorker.com/printables/fact/050530fa_fact (http://www.newyorker.com/printables/fact/050530fa_fact)

Not *SO* far into 'wackoland'... but I guess my real point was that it really doesn't MATTER what the government teaches in schools. No one's really paying attention or 'learning' that ANYWAY, so this is far from the most worrisome example of the Bush Administration's religious bias interfering with science.

[hennabee.livejournal.com]

Autumnyte is quite right...any time there are about to be changes, culture swings in the opposite direction to try and compensate. Japan went from an era of extreme extravagance to one that prized minimal in architecture and fashion. It's been mirrored in many cultures, and it doesn't just go for fashion, architecture...it also goes with ideals. I remember reading several psych reports that there were actual alternating generations of strict-vs-permissive in several families they studied.
Think of it this way...there was no growth that wasn't ever accomplished without a somewhat annoying and itchy shedding of the skin first. We are in the midst of The Sheddening.

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

I fervently hope you're right. Most days I think we've gone so far to the right, the next election can't possibly go any way but left.

Then I remember things like the Christian Secessionist thing in the Carolinas, and Fundamentalists calling on people to vote for Christ, and a President calling for Creationism in our schools, outlawing of abortion, restrictions on freedom of expression and gay rights, and hyper-moral conservativism over life-saving scientific study, and I get queasy all over again.

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

I would be, too, if it were going to be a political station, but I don't think it really will be.

Er...who is this?

[darthvenereal.livejournal.com]

i think the two coasts and the major industrial cities in the north should secess from the union and create a combined new state with canada. we can leave the backwoods farm country and the insects infested woodland areas to the fundamental christians.

[well-artesia.livejournal.com]

It was me. I just wasn't logged in. Figured you'd get it; sorry! :)

[well-artesia.livejournal.com]

Correction: ON THIS TOPIC, it doesn't seem to matter what the gov't would like to teach. I'm certainly not advocating that we allow Bush to set curriculum standards across the board, I just think that OTHER THAN AS A PRECEDENT, there's really not much actual harm being done here.

[well-artesia.livejournal.com]

I remember joking when I was in high school about how all the rebellious possibilities had been done, the only thing left to do to revolt/cause a stir would be to be pious and good.

Ha! If only I'd known! In any case, yes, just wait 'til we find a vaccine for AIDS - sex drugs and rock and roll will be back! ;)