What's the Matter with Kansas?
Aug. 1st, 2006 11:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trinityvixenSo, these things come and go in cycles in Kansas, apparently.
I don't think any amount of evidence will ever convince Kansans that there is no debate in the scientific community over evolution. No amount of logic will ever work on people so determined to be not only ignorant but combative and unimaginative about this stuff. You tell them, "evolution has stood up to scientific rigor, yet, according to the objectivity of scientific methods, we cannot call it fact because it cannot be disproven, and something only proven many times over remains a theory." They hear, "evolution is a theory, which means they're not sure it's true, so it might not be. Better look somewhere else (JEEBUS!)."
You decide not to argue definitions of the word "theory" with them, and point out the peer-reviewed literature. "There is no debate. No biological scientist has come up with a significant challenge or viable alternate theory to evolution that can be tested." They say, "Scientists say Intelligent Design explains things (THE EYEBALL! THE EYEBALL!)"
You, getting frustrated now, ask to see the degrees in which these "scientists" who are supporting ID have. Also, while you're at it, you'd like an explanation as to how you can test, within the scientific method, for an invisible supernatural force. The ignorant people retreat to the comfortable ground where they know that God created the world 6,500 years ago and all is as they say whether you and your logic like it or not.
Argue with that, you effete "intellectuals."
There is just no way to "win" when everything logical, verifyable and scientific is disregarded because the Jesus card trumps all. Forget that the Bible, if you accept it as the word of God, was interpreted to a very fallible human medium. Forget that men then as now lack the imagination to see beyond what is right in front of them when they aren't educated enough to do so (or, perhaps especially so, when they're not encouraged to embrace education enough to find education and people who are educated as venerable things). Forget Genesis might be the most beautiful poetic rendition of billions of years of life springing up on the great mudball we live on. Forget that half the idiots in Kansas are reading a version translated from the Hebrew (which they wouldn't be able or inclined to read because they probably think God originally set it down in English).
Forget all that. The Bible is right. Parsing its message, we know the Earth is 6,500 years old, God made man in his image, intended women to be slaves to sexual desire and baby-making for their men, and the Earth is our plaything which we're sure God will fix after we break it a lot. Gore-schmore. Global warming is gonna be fixed by a snap of the Almighty's fingers. Excellent.
Okay, that was a rant, but this? These are quotes from the article, quotes that people said that they thought gave credence to their way of thinking (versus just making them seem like ignorant hicks).
The chairman of the board, Dr. Steve E. Abrams, a veterinarian and the leader of the conservative majority, said few of the opposition candidates were really moderates. “They’re liberals,” said Dr. Abrams, who is not up for re-election.
He said that the new science curriculum in no way opened the door to intelligent design or creationism and that any claim to the contrary “is an absolute falsehood.”
“We have explicitly stated that the standards must be based on scientific evidence,” Dr. Abrams said, “what is observable, measurable, testable, repeatable and unfalsifiable.”
In science, he said, “everything is supposedly tentative, except the teaching of evolution is dogma.”
...
Dr. Abrams said his views as someone who believes that God created the universe 6,500 years ago had nothing to do with the science standards adopted.
...
Dr. Abrams said that at a community meeting he had been asked whether it was possible to believe in the Bible and in evolution, and that he had responded, “There are those who try to believe in both — there are theistic evolutionists — but at some point in time you have to decide which you’re going to put your credence in.”
Wingnut check points:
-Uses 'liberal' as a slur--check.
-Says it's not about Jeebus--check
-Proceeds then to admit to being a Creationist--check
-Says these two things can't possibly conflict when he is the Chairman of the School Board--check
-Claims that evolution is the only defended theory in science--check
-God and evolution cannot possibly co-exist; CHOOSE YOUR SIDE--check
-"WHY WON'T THEY TEACH THE CONTROVERSY!?!"--check
*
Connie Morris, a conservative Republican running for re-election, said the board had merely authorized scientifically valid criticism of evolution. Ms. Morris, a retired teacher and author, said she did not believe in evolution.
“It’s a nice bedtime story,” she said. “Science doesn’t back it up.”
Except for all the science that does. And all the science that doesn't not support it. Scientifically valid criticism says what?
*
Critics said the changes altered the science standards in ways that invited theistic interpretations. The new definition called for students to learn about “the best evidence for modern evolutionary theory, but also to learn about areas where scientists are raising scientific criticisms of the theory.”
Okay, I'll bite.
Me: Hello, science?
Science: Yes?
Me: I'm calling for biology.
Science: One second...
Biology: Hi! You have a question?
Me: Yeah, I'm driving to La-La Land, and I figured I'd stop and see some sights on my way. Do you have directions to any of those areas where scientists are raising scientific criticisms of the theory of evolution? I figure that must be spectacular because, you know, it's so secretive. They wouldn't hide it or limit access if it wasn't awesome.
Biology: Hmm, well, I can't find any locations matching your description on my PubMed search. We do offer something close to that though.
Me: What've you got?
Biology: There's this Jesus-topia place. I can't promise that there's scientific criticisms of evolution there, but there are definitely criticisms.
Me: Oh. No science?
Biology: Nope, not as such, sorry.
Me: But evolution is definitely not cool, Zeus?
Biology: They pray to God there. I'd watch the Greek references. They hate the gays there, too, and they have a simplistic view of less advanced cultures, like the ancient Greeks, who accepted homosexuality. Just FYI.
Me: Yeah, thanks for that. I guess that will do. No luck at all with the areas where science is actually criticising evolution?
Biology: Can't help you.
Me: Okay. Hey, you wouldn't be able to transfer me to Chemistry, would you? I figure if I can't find a scientific alternative to Biology, he might have some dynamtie suggestions about where I can find pockets of mad alchemy.
Biology: I'd love to help you, but I'm afraid you've used up your stupid quota. Tootles!
*
John Calvert, manager of the Intelligent Design Network in Shawnee Mission and a lawyer who wrote material for the board advocating the new science standards, said they were not intended to advance religion.
“What we are trying to do is insert objectivity, take the bias out of the religious standard that now favors the nontheistic religion of evolution,” Mr. Calvert said.
I don't even know how what he's saying defends ID. They're trying to take the religious taint out of ID and evolution? Do people pray to Darwin? God, I just might.
"Dear Mr. Darwin, please select against the enemies of evolution. Their brains are too weak for them to propagate healthy, productive young. If they were to evolve into some kind of parasite, that would be keen, too. Because then we could treat them as the drains of our collective patience and attention that they are."
Saddest quote of all:
But many of the homeowners Mr. McDonald visited Friday night showed little interest in the race. Jack Campbell, a medical center security director, opened the door warily, and when Mr. McDonald recited his pitch, seemed disappointed. “I thought I won some sweepstakes,” Mr. Campbell said.
Okay, so it's a primary race. For seats on the School Board. But really, that is so fucking sad and explains so fucking much about what's wrong with this nation.
I don't think any amount of evidence will ever convince Kansans that there is no debate in the scientific community over evolution. No amount of logic will ever work on people so determined to be not only ignorant but combative and unimaginative about this stuff. You tell them, "evolution has stood up to scientific rigor, yet, according to the objectivity of scientific methods, we cannot call it fact because it cannot be disproven, and something only proven many times over remains a theory." They hear, "evolution is a theory, which means they're not sure it's true, so it might not be. Better look somewhere else (JEEBUS!)."
You decide not to argue definitions of the word "theory" with them, and point out the peer-reviewed literature. "There is no debate. No biological scientist has come up with a significant challenge or viable alternate theory to evolution that can be tested." They say, "Scientists say Intelligent Design explains things (THE EYEBALL! THE EYEBALL!)"
You, getting frustrated now, ask to see the degrees in which these "scientists" who are supporting ID have. Also, while you're at it, you'd like an explanation as to how you can test, within the scientific method, for an invisible supernatural force. The ignorant people retreat to the comfortable ground where they know that God created the world 6,500 years ago and all is as they say whether you and your logic like it or not.
Argue with that, you effete "intellectuals."
There is just no way to "win" when everything logical, verifyable and scientific is disregarded because the Jesus card trumps all. Forget that the Bible, if you accept it as the word of God, was interpreted to a very fallible human medium. Forget that men then as now lack the imagination to see beyond what is right in front of them when they aren't educated enough to do so (or, perhaps especially so, when they're not encouraged to embrace education enough to find education and people who are educated as venerable things). Forget Genesis might be the most beautiful poetic rendition of billions of years of life springing up on the great mudball we live on. Forget that half the idiots in Kansas are reading a version translated from the Hebrew (which they wouldn't be able or inclined to read because they probably think God originally set it down in English).
Forget all that. The Bible is right. Parsing its message, we know the Earth is 6,500 years old, God made man in his image, intended women to be slaves to sexual desire and baby-making for their men, and the Earth is our plaything which we're sure God will fix after we break it a lot. Gore-schmore. Global warming is gonna be fixed by a snap of the Almighty's fingers. Excellent.
Okay, that was a rant, but this? These are quotes from the article, quotes that people said that they thought gave credence to their way of thinking (versus just making them seem like ignorant hicks).
The chairman of the board, Dr. Steve E. Abrams, a veterinarian and the leader of the conservative majority, said few of the opposition candidates were really moderates. “They’re liberals,” said Dr. Abrams, who is not up for re-election.
He said that the new science curriculum in no way opened the door to intelligent design or creationism and that any claim to the contrary “is an absolute falsehood.”
“We have explicitly stated that the standards must be based on scientific evidence,” Dr. Abrams said, “what is observable, measurable, testable, repeatable and unfalsifiable.”
In science, he said, “everything is supposedly tentative, except the teaching of evolution is dogma.”
...
Dr. Abrams said his views as someone who believes that God created the universe 6,500 years ago had nothing to do with the science standards adopted.
...
Dr. Abrams said that at a community meeting he had been asked whether it was possible to believe in the Bible and in evolution, and that he had responded, “There are those who try to believe in both — there are theistic evolutionists — but at some point in time you have to decide which you’re going to put your credence in.”
Wingnut check points:
-Uses 'liberal' as a slur--check.
-Says it's not about Jeebus--check
-Proceeds then to admit to being a Creationist--check
-Says these two things can't possibly conflict when he is the Chairman of the School Board--check
-Claims that evolution is the only defended theory in science--check
-God and evolution cannot possibly co-exist; CHOOSE YOUR SIDE--check
-"WHY WON'T THEY TEACH THE CONTROVERSY!?!"--check
*
Connie Morris, a conservative Republican running for re-election, said the board had merely authorized scientifically valid criticism of evolution. Ms. Morris, a retired teacher and author, said she did not believe in evolution.
“It’s a nice bedtime story,” she said. “Science doesn’t back it up.”
Except for all the science that does. And all the science that doesn't not support it. Scientifically valid criticism says what?
*
Critics said the changes altered the science standards in ways that invited theistic interpretations. The new definition called for students to learn about “the best evidence for modern evolutionary theory, but also to learn about areas where scientists are raising scientific criticisms of the theory.”
Okay, I'll bite.
Me: Hello, science?
Science: Yes?
Me: I'm calling for biology.
Science: One second...
Biology: Hi! You have a question?
Me: Yeah, I'm driving to La-La Land, and I figured I'd stop and see some sights on my way. Do you have directions to any of those areas where scientists are raising scientific criticisms of the theory of evolution? I figure that must be spectacular because, you know, it's so secretive. They wouldn't hide it or limit access if it wasn't awesome.
Biology: Hmm, well, I can't find any locations matching your description on my PubMed search. We do offer something close to that though.
Me: What've you got?
Biology: There's this Jesus-topia place. I can't promise that there's scientific criticisms of evolution there, but there are definitely criticisms.
Me: Oh. No science?
Biology: Nope, not as such, sorry.
Me: But evolution is definitely not cool, Zeus?
Biology: They pray to God there. I'd watch the Greek references. They hate the gays there, too, and they have a simplistic view of less advanced cultures, like the ancient Greeks, who accepted homosexuality. Just FYI.
Me: Yeah, thanks for that. I guess that will do. No luck at all with the areas where science is actually criticising evolution?
Biology: Can't help you.
Me: Okay. Hey, you wouldn't be able to transfer me to Chemistry, would you? I figure if I can't find a scientific alternative to Biology, he might have some dynamtie suggestions about where I can find pockets of mad alchemy.
Biology: I'd love to help you, but I'm afraid you've used up your stupid quota. Tootles!
*
John Calvert, manager of the Intelligent Design Network in Shawnee Mission and a lawyer who wrote material for the board advocating the new science standards, said they were not intended to advance religion.
“What we are trying to do is insert objectivity, take the bias out of the religious standard that now favors the nontheistic religion of evolution,” Mr. Calvert said.
I don't even know how what he's saying defends ID. They're trying to take the religious taint out of ID and evolution? Do people pray to Darwin? God, I just might.
"Dear Mr. Darwin, please select against the enemies of evolution. Their brains are too weak for them to propagate healthy, productive young. If they were to evolve into some kind of parasite, that would be keen, too. Because then we could treat them as the drains of our collective patience and attention that they are."
Saddest quote of all:
But many of the homeowners Mr. McDonald visited Friday night showed little interest in the race. Jack Campbell, a medical center security director, opened the door warily, and when Mr. McDonald recited his pitch, seemed disappointed. “I thought I won some sweepstakes,” Mr. Campbell said.
Okay, so it's a primary race. For seats on the School Board. But really, that is so fucking sad and explains so fucking much about what's wrong with this nation.
