Posted on 02/08/2006 3:37:16 AM PST by PatrickHenry
Breaking News [Thus begins the article]: False Fear Syndrome has skipped right over Michigan and spread directly from Ohio to Wisconsin. The primary symptom is the spreading of false fears about teaching intelligent design in states that are merely encouraging the critical analysis of evolution. The Syndrome is typically accompanied by paranoia among educators, politicians, and the newsmedia.
This epidemic broke out in full force in Kansas last November. More recently it appeared in Ohio and South Carolina. Sadly, today there is a confirmed case in Wisconsin.
A press release from Wisconsin Representative Terese Berceau indicates she has introduced a bill into the Wisconsin State Legislature seeking to "to stem the growing tide of intelligent design and other specious science." This is interesting because I've never seen legislation aimed at stopping "the tide" of a particular idea. Imagine if a politician issued a press release stating "I want to stop the growing tide of evolution." I'm sure something like this has happened--and I'm sure they got skewered for it.
In any case, Representative Berceau has been infected by the false fear that intelligent design is being pushed in her state. She writes in her press release:
"We have seen attempts to enshrine the teaching of intelligent design as science in Kansas and in Dover, Pennsylvania — even in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, in our own backyard." (Berceau Offers Legislation to Stop the Assault on Science in Wisconsin Schools, issued February 6, 2006)
"Students are expected to analyze, review, and critique scientific explanations, including hypotheses and theories, as to their strengths and weaknesses using scientific evidence and information. Students shall be able to explain the scientific strengths and weaknesses of evolutionary theory. This policy does not call for the teaching of Creationism or Intelligent Design."So there is no need for this bill. This is simply another instance of Darwinists attempting to oppose critical analysis of evolution by pretending that it is equivalent to teaching intelligent design. This is a political tactic based upon misinformation, misrepresentation, emotions, and false fears.
Here are 5 simple, non-complicated reasons why teaching critical analysis of evolution is not teaching ID:
1) They're Just Different: One can easily critique evolution without getting into "replacement theories," such as intelligent design. For example, consider the Ohio Critical Analysis of Evolution Lesson Plan which offers critiques of arguments for evolution from a number of angles including homology, antibiotic resistance, and endosymbiosis theory, all without making any discussion of intelligent design.
2) Explicit Statements of Intent: Some places which sanction critical analysis have explicit disclaimers which ensure that people understand that the critical analysis policy does not call for teaching ID. For example, Ohio's Science Standards, which require critical analysis, also state in 6 places, "The intent of this benchmark does not mandate the teaching or testing of intelligent design." Similar disclaimers exists in Kansas and Grantsburg, WI.
3) Separate Legal Category: In Edwards v. Aguillard, the U.S. Supreme Court clearly distinguished between scientific critiques of prevailing scientific theories, and teaching alternative viewpoints to evolution. This thus exists as a separate and already-protected legal category.
4) Many Critics of Darwin Don't Support ID: Critics of Neo-Darwinism such as structuralists or self-organization proponents have plenty of problems with Neo-Darwinism--and they explicitly disaffirm ID! If critical analysis = ID then these people apparently don't exist. Case-in-point: in South Carolina last month, structuralist Richard von Sternberg testified in favor of critical analysis of evolution. Yet Sternberg himself is not an ID-proponent.
5) Final Proof: The Pudding (the Darwinists' own behavior): Darwinist behavior confirms it: no lawsuit has ever been filed in a state or district which simply required teaching critical analysis of evolution. Yet it took the Darwinists less than 2 months to file a lawsuit to ban intelligent design from science classes in Dover, Pennsylvania.
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Followed no doubt by "Eyes Closed and Fingers in Ears"
Careful, Discovery Institute, your roots need a touch-up.
That scares the crap out of the evolution religion. When students see that the theory has no scientific support, that it actually fails laws of physics, they begin to look at the theory that does have the support of science and observation. Creation.
Kritikal analysis?? NO! Ve must not allow opposink viewpoints! You vill submit!
Bla bla bla I can't hear you!
Democratic Party... National Organization of Women...Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin Voice for Choice Award ... Family Planning and Reproductive Health Assn. Legislator of the Yea
With friends like these...
Be careful what position you take. Galileo's willingness to challenge the monolithic, official version of reality was resisted by the unassailable priesthood.
Take a better look at where you stand.
That's funny...the creationists are borrowing terms from the Marxists now. "Critical Analysis" a.k.a. "Critical Theory" are terms used by moonbat Marxist political scientists to mask their attacks on laissez-faire capitalism.
What next? Proletariat Analysis? People's Revolutionary Design?
Thanks! It's always good to start the day with a laugh.
And those weak attempts to debunk the economic effects of human nature have been proven wrong. Look at the EUs economy.
Not only that, those of us who believe the Bible have had to put with 'higher analysis' from the moonbats for decades. Our skin seems to be a little thicker these days than the 'science' community's.
What are you guys afraid of? Get a grip already.
Ready?
Creationism is the opiate of the dumbasses.
ROTFLMAO.
"Creationism is the opiate of the dumbasses."
Well, I've actually seen someone argue that the theory evolution could not be correct because he's too stupid to understand it.
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