Texas Board of Education endorses anti-atheist book

[Pulp Hero]

Behold.

Its getting worse. My theory is that the depression, which is bringing out the right wing thinking GOP supporters and gun-nuts is helping strengthen and give legitimacy to the aggressive creationists, being that there is a lot of over lap in the groups allowing for a blitz of conservative idiocy.

[Aaron]

IIRC it's customary to post the article, so here is part 1 (it's rather long)

Things are getting really scary in Texas. I'm not kidding. Something is bubbling in the Lone Star State, and it has the stink of 100 percent pure crazy.

First, science communicator Bill Nye was booed during a lecture in Waco for insisting that the Moon reflected light from the Sun. Then we have Chuck Norris advocating for secession and installing himself as president of Texas, presumably as part of Glenn Beck's lunatic "let's bring back the utter terror we all felt after 9/11" faux-movement ("We surround them" he assures his nitwit followers).

But you already knew about that, right?

Tonight I discovered a couple more things that scared the hell out of me. This post will cover the first, because I don't want to give anyone any ulcers.

Publishers Newswire informs me that Don McLeroy, Chair of the Texas State Board of Education (yes, that board of education) is recommending to his fellow board members a book called Sowing Atheism: The National Academy of Sciences' Sinister Scheme to Teach Our Children They're Descended from Reptiles. Oh yes, my friends. The press release, obviously designed to keep me up at night, says:


McLeroy’s timely recommendation could influence the board’s final decision on the science curriculum scheduled for March 27. The Texas decision will determine what is printed in science textbooks nationwide.


The book (you can read the whole thing, if you hate yourself that much, here in PDF form) is written by Robert Bowie Johnson, Jr., who the press release boasts holds a "general science degree," whatever that means, and he accuses the "evo-atheists" in the National Academy of "seduction and deception" in their attempts to indoctrinate our youth with evolution. ("Evo-atheists?" I guess every group sounds scarier when you give them a hyphenated prefix -- but count me among them either way.)

More from the press release:


In his book, Johnson shows that the NAS cannot pick any one of the two million or so living species and identify the species from which it allegedly evolved, nor can the NAS produce any evidence for the alleged evolution of the sexes. Further, Johnson points out, the NAS admits it lacks a “plausible hypothesis” for the origin of life.


Look, I just read The Selfish Gene by militant evo-atheist Richard Dawkins, and he seemed to have those questions pretty well covered. And that was written thirty years ago. Catch up, Johnson! Put that general science degree to work!

But I really can't scare you until you read the first paragraph of Chapter 1 of Sowing Atheism:


Imagine yourself standing in the administrative offices of your local junior high school. You are there to bring a forgotten lunch to one of your children. Two tall, forbidding men enter wearing black business suits with red-letter NAS (National Academy of Sciences) armbands. They sneer and brush past you. They ignore the receptionist and the other people working there, and head straight for the principal’s office. Just as the startled educator looks up at the intruders, both slam their fists on his desk. In unison, they cry, “We represent infallible science. You must teach these children that they are descended from reptiles. It is impossible to disprove our findings, and wrong to challenge them; therefore, no other point of view will be tolerated.”


Aaaaaugh!!!!

Okay, okay. Breathe.

I have to give you one last spook on this subject, and it's a visual. Take a look at the cover of Sowing Atheism.

HOLY CRAP! THAT SNAKE IS TOTALLY GONNA EAT THOSE CUTE WHITE KIDS!!!

If you can stand it, click here to get a better view. By looks of things, the snake is either spouting evil Darwinist lies, or is very nauseous and about to regurgitate a couple of recently-digested Christian children. The little girl seems like she wants to tell the snake what-for, but I have to tell you, I think the little boy is interested in hearing what the snake has to say. I think he wants to know if there are weaknesses in the creation theory. He's really taking it in. Evo-atheist in the making, I'd say.

I know, you can't take any more. If you want to learn more about this subject, you know, seriously, go take a look at the work of the National Science Examiner, Trina Hoaks. She offers a bit more substance on this topic than I just did. It's a very serious topic, because even though all of this is risible, there is a real battle being fought here, because the standards imposed by Texas on textbook publishers will wind up affecting school systems all over the country. So in a sense, the state of our national education system is being held at snake-point by these nutbags. It's a subject that requires serious attention and effort.

But for tonight, I just wanted to scare you.

How'd I do?

[Count Chocula]

In my mind, it's a sign of the times. People in dire straits, or for readers in other countries, people enduring worse privations than they've experienced in their lives, tend to become reactionary in their thought and behaviour patterns. Often, this includes falling back to things they learned in their childhood, including fundamental religious beliefs. In my opinion, not even the American Revolution, perhaps the "cleanest" revolution in the past 300 years, was driven by reason; the triggers were outrage and revenge. The rational thought came before and after the Revolution succeeded. Texas is probably just the tip of the iceberg of regressive feelings devoid of reason that we'll see before this mess is over.

[Stark]

That's actually hilarious. It's incredibly amusing that a state of the US is that far gone; assuming the education board is a part of the government, this is Muslim-fundamentalist 'read the ELDERS OF ZION' level denial and ignorance.

[Lonestar]

That's actually hilarious. It's incredibly amusing that a state of the US is that far gone; assuming the education board is a part of the government, this is Muslim-fundamentalist 'read the ELDERS OF ZION' level denial and ignorance.

Part of the problem is that the States buy the textbooks, and something like half the population of Texas(which is #2 in population in the States) lives in rural areas, and we all know what wonderful thought processes that breeds. So the state textbook board has to listen to whiners diligent constituents and purchase books that reflect their worldview rather than reality.

And since Texas is the biggest purchaser of school textbooks, almost all of the textbook publishers write to it's specifications.

It's a vicious, downward spiral.

[DPDarkPrimus]

I'd sure like a more reliable source and less sensationalist article about this, all the same.

[Ender]

I'd sure like a more reliable source and less sensationalist article about this, all the same.

link 1
link 2, which is from the book's site and is the endorsement.

In the future, if you want to confirm a claim, try this site: www.google.com

[Lagmonster]

This is more suited to SLAM.

[General Zod]

In my mind, it's a sign of the times. People in dire straits, or for readers in other countries, people enduring worse privations than they've experienced in their lives, tend to become reactionary in their thought and behaviour patterns. Often, this includes falling back to things they learned in their childhood, including fundamental religious beliefs. In my opinion, not even the American Revolution, perhaps the "cleanest" revolution in the past 300 years, was driven by reason; the triggers were outrage and revenge. The rational thought came before and after the Revolution succeeded. Texas is probably just the tip of the iceberg of regressive feelings devoid of reason that we'll see before this mess is over.

Oh please. This is Texas we're talking about; as far as I'm concerned it's par per course in that state. If this were say, New York or California the article was talking about, then it might be worth getting concerned over. Maybe you haven't noticed the last several years where atheists have been consistently labeled as one of the most untrustworthy minorities in America? This is really nothing new.

[General Zod]

Ghetto edit: (fucking editing timeout) - As far as the American Revolution being the "cleanest" revolution in the last 300 years, that's a load of horseshit.

[Teleros]

The book itself if you want to have a read / laugh. Note it's a 130 page PDF file. Got to love the Acknowledgements page though:

Thanks also to AnswersinGenesis.org, CreationontheWeb.com, the Institute for Creation Research (icr.org), ScienceAgainstEvolution.org, and American Vision.

[DPDarkPrimus]

In the future, if you want to confirm a claim, try this site: http://www.google.com

I wasn't suggesting the Texas BOE wasn't doing this, what I was saying is that it's preferable to actually use a news article for these sorts of things, and save the colorful blogish examinations for follow-ups.

[Elfdart]

Behold.

Its getting worse. My theory is that the depression, which is bringing out the right wing thinking GOP supporters and gun-nuts is helping strengthen and give legitimacy to the aggressive creationists, being that there is a lot of over lap in the groups allowing for a blitz of conservative idiocy.

Actually, Klan membership went way down during the Great Depression, when all those middle-class whites had to spend more time worrying about keeping their jobs and homes, and the white trash had to scrape just to eat. I live in a county that was (as they said back then) Kluxed until 1934, when they were turned out in droves. Between the Dust Bowl, boll weevils and 25% unemployment, who had time to prance around with a pillow case on his head?

[Pulp Hero]

Except that people during this depression are turning into paranoid anti-government nuts, weather or not they are directly affected by the depression. Seriously, the right wingnut supporters are louder than ever thanks to eight years of rule, and now with the depression they are using doublethink to see it as the liberals' fault.

And Texas is the biggest buyer of schoolbooks, so other states will follwe their example. That is what makes this story such a shame.

[CarsonPalmer]

Except that people during this depression are turning into paranoid anti-government nuts, weather or not they are directly affected by the depression. Seriously, the right wingnut supporters are louder than ever thanks to eight years of rule, and now with the depression they are using doublethink to see it as the liberals' fault.

And Texas is the biggest buyer of schoolbooks, so other states will follwe their example. That is what makes this story such a shame.

Believe it or not, no. Most textbooks companies make Texas editions anyway, so this affects sane states less than, say, South Carolina doing something whacky.

[Tahlan]

This is nit picking, but somebody show me the proof that Texas buys the most text books in the nation. California's population is 36.8 million; Texas' population is 24.3 million. U.S. Census Population Estimates With 12 million more people, I would think that California buys the most text books in the nation. That being said, wouldn't it be California that drives the text book market in the U.S.? So why be overly concerned with what secessionistic Texans do anyway? Texans are on a seperate plane of reality.

[Surlethe]

One-liners are spam, people. And comments like, "Hurf hurf, it's Texas" are cute once in a thread, in a post with content, but vomitously inane the umpteenth time. Especially when they're not accompanied by any other content. This thread could go somewhere, especially if people, you know, posted meaningful analysis of the situation. Otherwise, I oppress any spam and the thread slowly dies.

Split Zor's post, both of Patrick's, OsirisLord's, and Zod's last to the Hall of Shame for being devoid of meaningful contributions.

[Lonestar]

This is nit picking, but somebody show me the proof that Texas buys the most text books in the nation. California's population is 36.8 million; Texas' population is 24.3 million. U.S. Census Population Estimates With 12 million more people, I would think that California buys the most text books in the nation. That being said, wouldn't it be California that drives the text book market in the U.S.? So why be overly concerned with what secessionistic Texans do anyway? Texans are on a seperate plane of reality.

I pulled that statement from Lies my Teacher Told Me(I have an earlier edition than the one I linked too, but one later than the 1995 edition), which is a critique of US History High School textbooks. He was only talking about the numbers of history textbooks, so I suppose I could have been in error when I didn't qualify my statement. When I get home I'll pull out the chapter and verse.

[Zixinus]

At the risk of provoking Surlethe's ire for one-liners: what made Texas such a conservative state in the first place?

[Khaat]

At the risk of provoking Surlethe's ire for one-liners: what made Texas such a conservative state in the first place?

I believe the Texans' conservative mindset is an over-inflation of their "national pride", expounded throughout their state's history. Not so much that "the old ways are better", but "we don't like anyone telling us different".

When I first learned about the Battle of the Alamo (when I was living in South Carolina), my first question was "so the defenders were disobeying the orders to withdraw and fire the powder stores?" The answer was a simple "yes." When I had to take a Texas State History class in Texas in high school a few years later, the teacher buried that factoid under flag-waving, patriotism, and "the ultimate sacrifice of true heroes."

I further believe that these cultural icons are a cornerstone of Texan identity, where any defeat is a rally-cry, any victory is divine providence. On the one hand, it's a positive attitude, on the other, it's an impediment to critical analysis. By extension, Texans perhaps see themselves as the "chosen people". I do recall heavy leaning on Old Testament, in religious "talks" with Texans: more "fire and brimstone", less "turn the other cheek".

I also recall rebellion was only a good thing in Texas when looked back at fondly in the established order's history, not in practice.

[General Zod]

At the risk of provoking Surlethe's ire for one-liners: what made Texas such a conservative state in the first place?

I suspect being a charter member of the Confederacy plus inserting a mandate for slavery in their charter in 1836 when most states had abolished slavery (they weren't a state yet) likely had a great deal to do with it. I can't imagine a good deal of Texans were terribly pleased at having to give up all that cheap labor when they joined the Union.

[Samuel]

At the risk of provoking Surlethe's ire for one-liners: what made Texas such a conservative state in the first place?

He won't kill you for asking valid questions. Anyway, being part of the South meant they were poor compared to the rest of the United States up until after the second world war. Additionally, a large percentage of the population lives in rural areas, unlike the rest of the country- in fact they have the largest amount in absolute terms compared to any other state.

http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrp ... ation.html

[Elfdart]

It started when the Spanish and Mexican governments had the bright idea of luring colonists to Texas with huge grants of land. Most of the Anglos who moved into Texas were debtors, criminals and others who got the shit end of the stick when they lived in the east. When the Spanish government offered free land to any armed settler (they expected the colonists to deal with the Indians) who moved to Texas, they attracted people who

(a) were desperate
(b) were armed
(c) disliked authority -esp. from back east
(d) disliked banks and bill collectors
(e) disliked immigrants -esp those bookworm Europeans
(f) disliked brown people -regarding them as patsies to be robbed (Mexicans), chattel (Blacks) and vermin (Indians)
(g) were looking to get rich quick -first from cotton, later from cattle, later still from oil

Put a large number of such people in an environment where mine is mine and yours is negotiable, the rule of law is whatever a mob or posse says it is, people think it's a sign of manhood to shoot or hang troublemakers, and let it stew for a hundred years and you get... Texas!

Michael Lind's Made In Texas is a must read on the subject.

[Elfdart]

At the risk of provoking Surlethe's ire for one-liners: what made Texas such a conservative state in the first place?

I suspect being a charter member of the Confederacy plus inserting a mandate for slavery in their charter in 1836 when most states had abolished slavery (they weren't a state yet) likely had a great deal to do with it. I can't imagine a good deal of Texans were terribly pleased at having to give up all that cheap labor when they joined the Union.

Texas, like the rest of the Confederacy, didn't give up slavery until the Union Army made them do it. In the case of Texas: June 19, 1865.

[TheFeniX]

Part of the problem is that the States buy the textbooks, and something like half the population of Texas(which is #2 in population in the States) lives in rural areas, and we all know what wonderful thought processes that breeds.

Huh? Around 10% actually live in non-metropolitan areas. No, Texas bullshit goes well-beyond any such simple answer as "bunch of ignorant rednecks in the sticks." I've done work in ISDs all around this state and I've heard "Atheists are liars and scumbags" all the way from high school drop-outs to administrators with bachelors/masters. The attitudes changed only marginally if was in downtown Houston/San Antonio or out in the middle of nowhere (like Vidor.... don't miss that job).