Returning to Dover [evolution trial in Dover, PA: week 2]

York Daily Record [Penna] ^ | 03 October 2005 | TERESA MCMINN

[PatrickHenry]

After a weekend break from a court case involving intelligent design, the Dover school board officials will face business as usual. The board today will hold its first school board meeting since the trial began.

On Sunday, Dover school board member David Napierski said he sympathized with the time fellow members Shelia Harkins and Alan Bonsell have spent on the court case.

“I really haven’t seen it erode them from their duties,” he said. “It definitely has taken a lot of their time . . . I think it is sapping some of the people, too.”

The trial began Sept. 26 in U.S. Middle District Court in Harrisburg. It resumes Wednesday.

Napierski hopes to attend at least one day per week of the trial.

“We’re seeing one side of the whole picture right now,” he said. “I think it’s going to go all the way up to the Supreme Court.”

He said dealing with the court case while running the school district is a “double-edged sword.

“I just hope and pray that our focus will stay on business,” he said.

School district residents might have a difficult time resuming day-to-day life as it was before the trial began.

Lonnie Langioni left his position as a school board member in Dover in 2003. He said the issue has divided the community and he wants folks to again be friends.

“We’re just going to have to let it run its course,” he said about the trial. “I’m just waiting for the day that this is all over and that the people of Dover can go back to talking to each other again.”

He said he follows the case and reads newspapers and articles online.

“It’s crossed all kinds of lines,” he said of the trial. “Dover is a great community. We all need to respect each others’ viewpoints.”

Former Dover school board member Barrie Callahan, a plaintiff in the court case, is ready to spend more time in court this week.

“The case needs to proceed,” she said Saturday. “I know the issue. To see it through the process is truly fascinating.

“You’re seeing the best of the best,” she said about attorneys. “It is an honor to be in their presence.”

She said she’s been following news of the trial posted online.

“It’s not about little tiny Dover,” she said. “This case really, really is important.”

UPDATE

Trial schedule: The trial resumes Wednesday and Thursday in U.S. Middle District Court in Harrisburg and is scheduled to continue Oct. 12, 14, 17 through 21, 24, 27 and Nov. 2 through 4.

At stake: It’s the most significant court challenge to evolution since 1987, and it’s the first time a court has been asked to rule whether intelligent design can be taught in public schools. Experts say the case’s outcome could influence how science is defined and taught in schools across the country. The lead defense lawyer said he wanted to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Coming this week: Among the scheduled witnesses: Dover school district science teacher Bertha Spahr and Jennifer Miller and plaintiffs Cynthia Sneath, Joel Leib and Deb Fenimore.

Barbara Forrest, a professor of philosophy at Southeastern Louisiana University, also is scheduled. Forrest co-authored “Creationism’s Trojan Horse,” subtitled “The Wedge of Intelligent Design.”

[Coyoteman]

Placemarker ping for later

[VadeRetro]

Just for one thing, you made the somewhat interesting claim that there is no physical fossil record. You were on the addressee list for this post.

Evidence that there seems to be a fossil record.

But in just a short week or so you've become the satirist's creationoid. Your posts speak for themselves.

Just between us, did Darwin Central put you up to this?

[Air Force Brat]

Eh?

I'll admit it - I'm a relative newbie. I never understood what "ping" means - can you explain?
Thx

[DoctorMichael]

If, as some Crevos say, "Genetic engineering happen to be a concrete example of intelligent design" then I'm not quite sure what the difference between these lunatics and Elijah Mohammed, the founder of the Nation of Islam is.

They both believe the same cultish thing.

[Junior]

It wouldn't be the first time one of the oh-so-honest creationist types tried to pass off someone else's writings as his own. I guess they figure it can't be a sin because God didn't say "thou shalt not plagerize."

[js1138]

That is what you are saying. You can't counter the evidence, so you attack the person who presents it to get off the subject.

Your side will have its day in court (literally). It will be amusing to see what they have to say when under oath.

[Junior]

Do Not Feed the Trolls

[ml1954]

But in just a short week or so you've become the satirist's creationoid. Your posts speak for themselves.

Like Wile E. 'creationoid' Coyote chasing Road 'evo' Runner.

[js1138]

I'll admit it - I'm a relative newbie. I never understood what "ping" means - can you explain?

I'm sure you will be given a good answer by someone else, but maybe this will add something.

There are at least three major kinds of forums. One is live chat, which FR is not.

Another kind that is rather common, allows posts to the thread, but not addressed to anyone in particular.

FR allows you to address your posts to a particular person or list of people. Posts addressed to you will show up when you click the "ping" link.

[Coyoteman]

Sorry, I have to leave the computer for a while, so I left a placemarker so I can find where things were when I return.

And welcome!

[aNYCguy]

Face it boys/girls. Your "Theory" of evolution has and is consistently being proven to be a hoax. If it wasn't you all wouldn't be afraid of teaching children about INTELLIGENT (I know, a foreign word for some of you) DESIGN... drug crazed fiends, etc.

Helpful hint for the future: Try to wait at least one thread before you out yourself as completely irrational.

[Junior]

"Ping" comes from the sonar tech lingo used in The Hunt for Red October. It means "I want to draw your attention to this thread."

[bondserv]

Should we teach 2+2=5 alongside 2+2=4 just so 2+2=4 looks good when we prove it's right?

Oh, welcome to FR.

More like:

2 + a - b + c - d + e + f - g + h + i + j - k + l + m - n + o + p - q + r + s - t + u + v - w + x + y - z = 4

Never ASSUME.

[RunningWolf]

How does it feel to a defendant to the Cosmo-Evo Cult of the flying spaghetti monster tribunal? The greatest minds, the most powerful prognosticators, their all here, Evo-Cosmo Cosmo-Evo.

You are now before the demented crown prince of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
You will be shouted down like the defendant before the Nazi judge /sarc>

Wolf

[shuckmaster]

Just joined FR on Sept 27 and you've already got a massive anti-science troll ping list? What was your last ID before you got banned?

[malakhi]

Why, thank you! :o)

[shuckmaster]

If you want to "observe" something, toss a frog in a blender

You're a sick man.

[RogueIsland]

How's FR policy these days on calling one's opponents homosexuals?>

That policy is so gay.

[js1138]

He has assured me that the frog blender experiment is a fact, so I have to assume he's done it. Either that or his "source" has done it.

[RunningWolf]

Right Wing Professor; How's FR policy these days on calling one's opponents homosexuals?

Thats a distortion, but then how could the prof operate without distortion?

I request a change in policy. It might be more work for the Moderators, but it would shine a bright light on the situations here.

Look at both the accuser and the accuser.

Wolf