Naive and dull

It's been a long time since the last post. This time has been useful for me to reflect and learn. Among my conclusions are two that stand out: 1) I've been naive about the motivation and coordination of the right wing-nuts; 2) My wordy pieces may satisfy my own interest in pointing to the logical fallacies that we are dealing with, but are not intrinsically fascinating reading. You may say "Duh", so be it.

One area that I've studied a little more closely of late is the concept of (sub)Intelligent Design and the debates in Kansass. And in reviewing who's doing what to whom, it becomes clear that the (sub)ID campaign is coordinated, knowingly duplicitous, and focused on making it difficult for any reasonable knowledge to enter popular culture.

You don't have to take this on my word, and I'm not going to try to prove my conclusions here. But, one little example is illustrative of the thinking that is going on.

If you aren't aware of the variant of (sub)Intelligent Design which is based on the Flying Spaghetti Monster, then you need to do a google search on "Flying Spaghetti Monster." Better yet, go right to the source: www.venganza.org. It should leave you in stitches, and expose the sophomoric level of argument used to promote (sub)Intelligent Design.

But, this got me to thinking. venganza.org has a link to the website of the Kansas State School Board (or some such name) where they give bio and contact information for the Board members. At present, there is a minority of intelligent members who are trying to limit the damage (not just to students education but to image of Kansass around the world), but they don't have the votes to generally prevail.

So, I sent some emails to the Board just to smoke out the issues. One member, Connie Morris, chose to respond in a most interesting manner (although I suspect that hers was an automated response). Here's the lowdown on Connie (who I guessed was a wingnut just from her picture) off the official Board website:

"Connie has served on numerous school committees and was a member of the Kansas Behavioral Science Regulatory Board appointed by Governor Graves. Her autobiography, From the Darkness: One Woman's Rise to Nobility, has been published by Huntington House Publishers. The book is Connie's story of recovery through Christ from incest, rape, domestic violence, substance abuse, and poverty during her early years in the Appalachian Mountains region."

Don't get me wrong, it looks like she has a fascinating life story. And, no matter how one gets past the childhood described here, one has to respect her getting past it. I'm not picking on Connie personally, it just that she provides us with an example of the lying ways of the so-called Christian wingnuts. So, let's get right to it. Connie responded to me by email. I will include the entire message so don't claim that she's been taken out of context.

"Thank you for emailing! Please know that I make a sincere effort to read every correspondence that comes my way, however it has become impossible to personally respond to every contact. I deeply appreciate your support and the valuable information that you may provide. Input from each and every individual is important. PS(sic): The KSBE is NOT seeking to implement Religion in public schools. My hope is to simply encourage criticisms of Evolution-as the evidence to do so abounds. Be well! -Connie Morris "

What is critical here is the post script: "PS(sic): The KSBE is NOT seeking to implement Religion in public schools. My hope is to simply encourage criticisms of Evolution-as the evidence to do so abounds." It doesn't take much to break this down into a series of lies, so let's do it!

First of all, it may be fair to say the the KSBE is not seeking to implement religion in public schools because 40% of the board is working hard to prevent that from happening. However, we shall see that the other 60% is trying hard to implement religion in public schools and this is the group to which Connie belongs. So, her statement is disingenuous, knowingly-misleading, and can only be intended to deceive rational people into complacency. A quick search on "lie" at dictionary.com comes up with: "To convery a false image or impression:Appearances often lie."

Now, someone might suggest that we take Connie at her word, so lets examine that. She is part of an organized movement that is seeking to undermine the teaching of evolution in schools. This movement, is populated and lead by fundamentalists. And, there is a non-scientific reason why they are so irked with the Theory of Evolution, meanwhile they have no concern about the correctness of other theories taught in our school systems. That is, they are concerned that the Theory of Evolution (and its random nature of the development of Universe and all within it) causes them to fear that faith might not stand up to this theory.

Before anyone takes exception to that statement, consider the following: 1) They are not asking for a general upgrade to the process of vetting scientific theory prior to its being presented in class rooms. Rather, this one theory, which has caused them consternation from its inception, is the sole focus of their charge. 2) They claim that the leaders and supporters of evolutionary theory have put it forth to sway people away from faith and to a secular gestalt. 3) They use silly logic and arguments, and in fact only a few of the proponents have advanced theories that have ever warranted consideration from serious thinkers in the fields of science, mathematics, and philosophy. Not only have those few serious proponents been repeated forced to retreat from their positions, their arguments are beyond the education and logic of virtually all of those advancing the (sub)Intelligent Design discussion.

To summarize, the adherents of (sub)Intelligent Design only have problems with a selected subset of science, which subset that consider dangerous to their beliefs. They attack the motivations of the leaders of this branch of science, and are unable to put forward valid arguments for why the Theory of Evolution should be criticized. So, the best we can say about these individuals (including Connie) is that they might be dupes of the band-wagon effect. In other words, their leaders argue that Evolution is wrong, and though the followers don't understand the logic they still vocally support the positions of their fellows. To which I say Corncobs!

Connie knows full well that she and the majority of the Board are trying to railroad evolutionary theory as a way to support their religion. As such, they very much are trying to teach religion in school. This makes her (as Al Franken would say) a Lying Liar!!!!

Ok, so in politics everyone isn't honest. But, when one is promoting God and religion there ought to be a little higher standard. President Clinton said he didn't have sex with ML, and by some definition he did not. Connie Morris says the school board is not seeking to teach religion in school. And, by some construction of those words, it is not. But, President Clinton did lie and Connie Morris is lying. In the case of President Clinton it was to protect himself and his family from a right wingnut witchhunt, and really had no bearing on the general public or the policies of this country. Connie Morris lies and it is to try to circumvent open scrutiny of what she and her fundamentalist colleagues are trying to do on the Kansass School Board. This has a grave bearing on the general public and of the policies of the State of Kansass.

Where are the indignation at how our democratic process of governance is being undermined by these Lying Liars? Where is Pat Robertson? Where is President (sic) Bush? Right in bed with the Lying Liars. hmmmm......

Maybe it's time to tell everyone about Connie's lesbian affairs. :)