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Darwinists Trick Themselves in Texas
Discovery Institute ^ | March 29, 2009 | Bruce Chapman

Posted on 03/30/2009 12:58:22 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts

Darwinists Trick Themselves in Texas

The New York Times got the preview story wrong, and the Washington Post editorial writer probably was too rushed to question the charges of "creationism" coming from the National Center for Science Education, the Darwin-only lobby. So this week's important decisions by the Texas Board of Education (TBOE) on how to teach evolution were predicated in the media by the big question of whether teachers should provide both "strengths and weaknesses" of Darwin's theory. Those words might sound benign, readers were told, but they really are "code words" (take the press' word for it) for creationism and religion.

To the media left, any questioning of Darwin is reserved for denizens of Dogpatch.

So, what did the TBOE do? Well, it turns out that they are fairly adroit politicians. They did remove language providing for "strengths and weaknesses" and then added new language--quite a lot of it--providing that students will learn, for example, to "analyze, evaluate and critique scientific explanations…including examining all sides of scientific evidence… so as to encourage critical thinking by the student." Perfect! A policy distinction without a difference! In fact, the new standards are just fine, an improvement, in fact. Now teachers can tell the kids about the scientific evidence in a variety of fields that seems to contradict the Darwinian account as well as the supposed evidence in support.

Once again the NCSE was too-smart-by-half. It ran blogs making fun of religion, while organizing public speakers who gave fulsome testimony to their Christian faith and how compatible it is with "evolution" (meaning Darwinian evolution). To the purists like Richard Dawkins and P.Z. Myers it probably makes them look like toadies.

In the end, the rhetoric meant to evoke fundamentalist cranks was mixed with pious statements doing the very kind of religious posturing the Darwinists project onto their foes, and reminding me of the church scenes from Blazing Saddles. It all backfired.

By demonizing specific words--and making the elimination of them the test of "science"--the NCSE and its state distributor, the Orwellian-named Texas Freedom Network, simply allowed the Board to do the obvious word shuffle. Okay, no "strengths and weakness, " but instead, we'll pass similar ideas in different words, and everyone will be happy. Except, of course, the NCSE and the TFN.

Don't expect the media to figure this out from the NCSE Talking Points memo, but the insiders get the picture. Dawkins must be enjoying a caustic chuckle at the expense of the NCSE.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: antiscience; antiscienceevos; board; coloringbooks; crackerhead; creation; education; evojihadists; evolution; evoshatescience; flatearth; goodgodimnutz; intelligentdesign; jihadists; marvalcomics; materialistjihadists; texas
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To: atlaw; GodGunsGuts
As Mr. Yahya's "Baghdad Bob" you are truly doing a stellar job of spreading his whopping lies, but the question remains: How did an Islamic apologist like you find such a comfortable and prominent home at Freerepublic?

Get real, atlaw. GGG is NOT a "Muslim apologist." And all your histrionics will not make him one.

81 posted on 03/31/2009 3:18:07 PM PDT by betty boop (All truthful knowledge begins and ends in experience. — Albert Einstein)
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To: atlaw

Whatever similarities you see are superficial at best. The only reason why I know about Yahya is because I stumbled upon one of his online books years ago while doing research for an article about the communist roots of Islamist terrorism. Just because Yahya is aware that there are many secular Middle Eastern terrorist groups who are mistakenly billed as Muslim Fundamentalists in the West, does not mean that I got my information from him or his outfit. You need to stop the practice of deliberate misrepresentation and putting words in people’s mouths, or I start hitting the abuse button.


82 posted on 03/31/2009 3:26:12 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
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To: betty boop; atlaw
Thanks BB. All I can think of is that he is really ticked-off about my Creation/ID posts. He just swooped-in out of the blue accusing me to being on the terrorist payroll. He's one weird dude.
83 posted on 03/31/2009 3:29:01 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
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To: GodGunsGuts
You need to stop the practice of deliberate misrepresentation and putting words in people’s mouths, or I start hitting the abuse button.

Bwahahahahaha....

Oh my sides....

Hahahahahahahahahaha...

Whew....chuckle,

Interseting choice of words there, oh scholarly one.

84 posted on 03/31/2009 3:29:10 PM PDT by toros
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To: GodGunsGuts

I “swooped in” in 2001. And you seem to be rather uncomfortable at the moment. Why is that?


85 posted on 03/31/2009 3:33:37 PM PDT by atlaw
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To: toros

Hope you didn’t break any ribs.


86 posted on 03/31/2009 3:34:24 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
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To: atlaw

I’m uncomfortable that a lying, dissembling, provocateur such as yourself is still on FR.


87 posted on 03/31/2009 3:36:46 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
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To: GodGunsGuts

It’s not your private creationist playground, newbie.


88 posted on 03/31/2009 3:39:28 PM PDT by atlaw
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To: atlaw

FR does not tolerate liars, dissemblers and provocateurs no matter how long they have been here, Mr. Lawyer.


89 posted on 03/31/2009 3:42:41 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
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To: betty boop

Walks like a duck, and all that. By the way, do you agree with GGG’s assertions?


90 posted on 03/31/2009 3:44:18 PM PDT by atlaw
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To: atlaw; GodGunsGuts
By the way, do you agree with GGG’s assertions?

Exactly what assertions have got you so torqued off? Give me a list. I'll answer you point for point.

91 posted on 03/31/2009 4:22:01 PM PDT by betty boop (All truthful knowledge begins and ends in experience. — Albert Einstein)
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To: betty boop; atlaw

Let’s see if Mr. Lawyer can give you a list without twisting my words out of context!


92 posted on 03/31/2009 4:46:29 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
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To: atlaw; GodGunsGuts
So your objection is to my alleged guilt by association argument

It is not alleged. You brought the guy in. It is a fact that you are using a guilt by association by association by association. First, I doubt that GGG even knew the guy before you mentioned him. Second, the fact that Harunan(or whatever) is a Muslim is the second association. Third, the fact that islamic terrorists are Muslim(certainly obvious) you attempt to establish a third association. Quite a feat of legerdemain(and not in the good sense). And to top off your "tour de force"(again not in a good sense) you attempt a fourth red herring. What I do or fail to do does not support your argument with GGG.

93 posted on 03/31/2009 5:20:55 PM PDT by AndrewC
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To: betty boop; GodGunsGuts
Torqued off? Sheesh. Looks to me like the creationist mob GGG summoned with his double-posted arm-waving fit are the ones with their hair on fire. Odd, isn't it? I post to GGG, and he wrangles up the pitchfork wielding villagers in response. Par for the course, I guess.

As for your question, read the thread. It isn't that hard to follow. If you really need a map, posts 66, 73, 75, and 79 (as well as my original post, which you evidently read), will suffice.

94 posted on 03/31/2009 5:30:48 PM PDT by atlaw
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To: atlaw; betty boop; GodGunsGuts
If you really need a map, posts 66, 73, 75, and 79 (as well as my original post, which you evidently read), will suffice.

Map? We don't need a map for something that leads nowhere. It is not our task to debunk an unsupported assertion/accusation/red herring. You are supposed to provide some sort of logical argument which logically connects the points you make. Assertions are not a logical argument.

95 posted on 03/31/2009 5:36:16 PM PDT by AndrewC
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To: AndrewC

Thanks, AC. I knew about Yahya long before Mr. Lawyer brought him up, but I don’t base what I think about Islamist terrorism on his writings. He’s a bit wacky here and there re: masonic conspiracies, etc. I merely pointed out (only after Mr. Lawyer brought it up and tried to put words and intentions in my mouth) that the growing Islamic creationist movement is good news for the War on Terror because they tend to oppose the same terror tactics that we do.


96 posted on 03/31/2009 5:37:12 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
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To: atlaw; betty boop; AndrewC; editor-surveyor; Fichori; Gordon Greene

==Torqued off? Sheesh. Looks to me like the creationist mob GGG summoned with his double-posted arm-waving fit are the ones with their hair on fire

I was warning my fellow creationists and IDers about your lies and provocations. If you pull this kind of crap with me, you are likely to pull it with them. Better that they know about your serpentine tongue now, rather get ambushed by you later.


97 posted on 03/31/2009 5:43:34 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
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To: GodGunsGuts; atlaw
Thanks, AC. I knew about Yahya long before Mr. Lawyer brought him up,

Well, that still does not justify a guilt by "association". I own several copies of "The Origin of Species", a copy of "Das Kapital", and "Manifesto of the Communist Party". I must be really guilty.

98 posted on 03/31/2009 5:47:32 PM PDT by AndrewC
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To: AndrewC

LOL!!!! LOL again!!!


99 posted on 03/31/2009 5:48:16 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
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To: atlaw
“I post to GGG, and he wrangles up the pitchfork wielding villagers in response.” [excerpt]
If you don't like us pitchfork wielding villagers, perhaps you should just go hide out over at DC.

We'll leave you alone then and you can hang out with all your buds!

Sounds like a win-win situation to me.
100 posted on 03/31/2009 5:52:52 PM PDT by Fichori (The only bailout I'm interested in is the one where the entire Democrat party leaves the county)
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