From the parents of these kids
Who in the future will be competing against your kids for dominance of the world.
Posted on 05/09/2005 11:35:25 PM PDT by Crackingham
While Kansas State Board of Education members spent three days soaking up from critics of evolution about how the theory should be taught in public schools, many scientists refused to participate in the board's public hearings. But evolution's defenders were hardly silent last week, nor are they likely to be Thursday, when the hearings are set to conclude. They have offered public rebuttals after each day's testimony. Their tactics led the intelligent design advocates -- hoping to expose Kansas students to more criticism of evolution -- to accuse them of ducking the debate over the theory. But Kansas scientists who defend evolution said the hearings were rigged against the theory. They also said they don't see the need to cram their arguments into a few days of testimony, like out-of-state witnesses called by intelligent design advocates.
"They're in, they do their schtick, and they're out," said Keith Miller, a Kansas State University geologist. "I'm going to be here, and I'm not going to be quiet. We'll have the rest of our lives to make our points."
The scientists' boycott, led by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Kansas Citizens for Science, frustrated board members who viewed their hearings as an educational forum.
"I am profoundly disappointed that they've chosen to present their case in the shadows," said board member Connie Morris, of St. Francis. "I would have enjoyed hearing what they have to say in a professional, ethical manner."
Intelligent design advocates challenge evolutionary theory that natural chemical processes can create life, that all life on Earth had a common origin and that man and apes had a common ancestor. Intelligent design says some features of the natural world are best explained by an intelligent cause because they are well ordered and complex. The science groups' leaders said Morris and the other two members of the board subcommittee presiding at the hearings already have decided to support language backed by intelligent design advocates. All three are part of a conservative board majority receptive to criticism of evolution. The entire board plans to consider changes this summer in standards that determine how students will be tested statewide in science.
Alan Leshner, AAAS chief executive officer, dismissed the hearings as "political theater."
"There is no cause for debate, so why are they having them?" he said. "They're trying to imply that evolution is a controversial concept in science, and that's absolutely not true."
From the parents of these kids
Who in the future will be competing against your kids for dominance of the world.
the guy's an evolutionist. the picture has (evolutionist) Chinese children who are supposed to be smarter than Creationist American children. The average Creationist has roughly the same intelligence as the average evolutionist, and since Creationists realize that the Creation of Genesis has the truth, Creationists are actually smarter.
Intelligent design says some features of the natural world are best explained by an intelligent cause because they are well ordered and complex.
For instance: schizophrenia, hemorrhoids, MS, MD, bubonic plague, cancer...And to think I've been stumbling through life thinking these (and innumerable other "features") were the result of a blind and indifferent process!
If I'm not mistaken, the trendy theory is that those things aren't explained by the intelligent cause, but rather by the absence of the intelligent causer.. Get with the program!
ping to self for later pingout.
Are you saying China will have a biological/technological development advantage over the US because the students in Kansas will be taught the weaknesses with the theory of evolution? Seems to me learning more about problems with evolution would be a way to encourage more scientific discourse.
Not really. It is, actually, my guess that the author of the post makes this connection. However, MY point about possible future disadvantage is still valid, and since the Intelligent Design proponents are also in many cases the people that try to limit biogenetic research of humans (both on religious basis), the connection is obvious.
Do you favor stem cell research from aborted remains?
I do not favor anything in that respect. I have yet to reach a solid opinion, although I'm against abortions. Technically, though, you either make stem cell research from aborted remains, or you lag behind China in biomedical research. It's your call.
Ping list material? We have so many of these going already ...
I've read there seems to be more promise in adult stem cells but I readily admit I don't know enough about it to make an informed comment one way or the other. But I do believe that sometimes right trumps economics.
I think so. And, the defenders of ignorance and scientific stagnation are already making noises here.
We evolutionists can't be that dumb. I caught the 'genesis' comment.
I vote yes. Kansas has given us a real gift... crevo threads every day. We should all enjoy it. :)
Yes we do. Now if we can only do something about all those pesky munchkins.
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