Posted on 09/27/2001 7:43:35 AM PDT by Nora
SEATTLE, Sept. 27 /U.S. Newswire/ -- An internal PBS memo made public today reveals an improper political agenda behind WGBH/Clear Blue Sky's ongoing series "Evolution", according to the Seattle-based Discovery Institute. The memo describes how "Evolution" will be used to influence government officials and promote political action in order to shape how evolution is taught in public schools.
Dated June 15, 2001, the memo bears the title "The Evolution Controversy, Use It or Lose It: Evolution Project/WGBH Boston" The document outlines the overall goals of the ongoing PBS series Evolution and describes the marketing strategy for the series. The complete text of the PBS memo is posted at http://www.reviewevolution.com.
According to the document, which was leaked by a source within PBS, one of the goals of "Evolution" is to "co-opt existing local dialogue about teaching evolution in schools." Another goal is to "promote participation," including "getting involved with local school boards."
In addition, the document identifies "government officials" as one of the target audiences for the series, and it describes a publicity campaign accompanying the series that will include writing op-eds for newspapers and "guerilla/viral marketing."
"Clearly, one purpose of 'Evolution' is to influence Congress and school boards and to promote political action regarding how evolution is taught in public schools," says Discovery Institute President Bruce Chapman. "In fact, 'Evolution's' marketing plan seems to have the trappings of a political campaign."
"Public television is funded in part by American taxpayers, and it should be held to high standards of fairness. It is inappropriate for public broadcasting to engage in activities designed to directly influence the political process by promoting one viewpoint at the expense of others," said Chapman.
According to Discovery Institute's John West, the political agenda behind "Evolution" is made even more explicit by its enlistment of Eugenie Scott as one of the official spokespersons for the series.
Scott runs the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), an advocacy group that by its own description is dedicated to "defending the teaching of evolution in the public schools." According to the group's Web site, the NCSE provides "expert testimony for school board hearings," supplies citizens with "advice on how to organize" when "faced with local creationist challenges," and assists legal organizations that litigate "evolution/creation cases."
"The NCSE is a single-issue group that takes only one side in the political debate over evolution in public education," says West, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Seattle Pacific University. "It is inappropriate for public television to enlist NCSE's executive director as an official spokesperson for this program."
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Founded in 1990, Discovery Institute is a non-profit, non- partisan public policy center for science, technology, regional development, environment, and defense. More information about the Institute and its activities can be found at www.discovery.org.
KEYWORDS:
SCIENCE, EDUCATION
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/U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/
09/27 06:00
Copyright 2001, U.S. Newswire
The previous replies to this I think where a bit to lofty, or a bit to snooty. I'll try and get it down to where you can understand it.
You know, evolution works kind of like doggie families. The Great Dane goes to visit the Cocker Spaniel one afternoon. And a little while later there's a whole batch of puppies that are bigger than the Cocker, and have longer hair than the Dane. But then the Dane visits another Dane, and you have a bunch of puppies that look just like the Dane! Isn't that special!
Now you have TWO bunches of doggies that don't look like each other. Great big ones with short hair. And medium sized ones with longer hair.
All you have to do is repeat the process for a few million generations, and you'll have two bunches of animals that are different species.[/babytalk]
Just as an asside, there's been lots of discussion on these threads about macro vs. micro evolution. I propose that we can see macro evolution, in the human community right now. Downs syndrome people do not have the same DNA count as normal people. Therefore (please don't anyone take offense here), they are technically not human. I'm not sure the results when Downs people have children, if they can. And it might be said that this genetic mutation is a "failure". But if instead it resulted in a stronger, or smarter, or some other mutation that was more successful, I believe that in a few short number of generations you would see an entirely different "humanoid" species.
Whether a person believes in creationism or not the fact is that creationism has virtually all its roots in the bible, so under the separation rules between church and state creationism can never be taught in the public school system or actively promoted by public TV. If creationists choose to teach creationism in their own private or home schools that is their prerogative...as unfortunate as it is for the kids that are exposed to this bunk.
Evolution isn't a "political agenda" for scientists, its just the facts. Fighting evolution is a political agenda for creationists who are promoting their own book/church/whatever.
"co-opt existing local dialogue about teaching evolution in schools."
PBS attempting to involve themselves with local school boards decisions is a political act, whether its over science, history, sex-ed, or gym.
I will fight with my local school board if they ever stop teaching evolution, but I don't need PBS agitating either way on my dime.
ROTFLMAO - - I hope you meant that to be funny Mr. Lucky.
How about the fact that "our rabid religious nuts" don't make a habit of murdering those who disagree with them?
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