scombrid

Not just equal time. Evolution must go. This bill declares that evolution is repugnent to the principles of the Declaration of Independence and is, therefore, unconstitutional if taught in the public schools.

Here's a taste

Our public education system really is a laughing stock of the world when we have people in power that made it through school without even the most basic understanding of science or our constitution. Hell, I was taught evolution in AP Biology in Catholic School. It's no wonder I was able to coast through a major state university with a high GPA on minimal effort. (granted I'm regretting my academic laziness now) My peers came from an education system that produces people like the politician that wrote the following bill. Additionally it is sick that the population at large would elect such but they don't know better. In a society where Fung Shui is thought to balance your house's chi and John Edwards is considered legit, what should I expect?


I would expect this shit in Bama or Kansas or my home states; one of which is home to Jessie Helms and the other home to Robertson and Falwell, but not Washington. I'm fuming right now.

<a href="http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/Senate/6500-6524/6500_01182002.txt" target="_blank">Creation bill</a>

[ January 23, 2002: Message edited by: scombrid ]

[ January 23, 2002: Message edited by: scombrid ]</p>

Henrietta

link doesn't seem to work

Henrietta

<a href="http://www.natcenscied.org/" target="_blank">National Center for Science Education</a>

Here's a site that links to the bill. For anyone who's not very familiar with Washington state: The state is really divided down the middle both economically and culturally. The west dominated by the Seattle area is fairly diverse and liberal. The eastern half is agricultural and has a lot more in common politically with Idaho. I'm guess this bill originated in the eastern part. I can't imagine this passing. I would think it would cause some sort of state civil war if it did.

[ January 23, 2002: Message edited by: Henrietta ]</p>

Euromutt

(Damn - this is the state I plan to emigrate to!)
The NCSE story points out that the same sponsor also introduced bill SB 6058 calling for "an Alabama-style evolution disclaimer in textbooks" last year. Seems they're hedging their bets - by demanding the outrageous, they probably hope a compromise will be made for the merely ludicrous.

Henrietta

I think you'd probably do ok in the Seattle area. I almost never thought about, noticed, or had anything to do with religion the whole time I was there. It's rather pervasive where I am now so I notice it more now. Where you are really does make a difference in how much of a problem you preceive religion to be.

hezekiah jones

Wow. What a nut.

tribalbeeyatch

I would love to say that we have far too many sane people in Washington for this bill to have a chance, but we did pass the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (basically an explicit ban on same-sex marriages) a couple of years back...

Morat

*shrug*. It's blatantly unconstitutional. Let it pass, with a rider that all legal bills as a result of this bill will come out of the pockets of it's sponser.

Henrietta

Unfortunately it doesn't work that way. Then we pay to sue them and pay to defend them from our lawsuits.

Ysabella

I just searched the text of the Constitution and didn't find the word "Creator." The Washington State Constitution has this:

That sounds more like some secret homage to some Shriners Grand Poobah to me. BUT then it has this: So clearly neither document actually claims it was instituted to protect rights endowed by the Creator.

I had to look it up, because I love that state so much. If the economy wasn't so wrecked, I'd have moved back by now.