Texas Board of Education endorses anti-atheist book

[Tahlan]

....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

I wouldn't consider a rural population of 17.5% a "large" percentage, not when every other state listed in the data/article you referenced, except for New York, has higher percentages of rural populations. For example, 44.6% of Alabama is rural, and 39.8% of North Carolina is rural. Now those are large percentages.

However, it is true that Texas has the largest rural population of 3.6 million people. But 3.6 million people out of a population of 20.8 million (2000 population estimates) does not even come close to a majority, and cannot be considered the driving factor in the Board of Education endorsing a anti-atheist textbook. If I read the article correctly, the textbook is being considered as the result of some last minute maneuverings by one individual. Let's not implicate an entire state of 24.8 million people (2008 population estimates) as being idiots because of the actions of one man. My hope is that sanity will triumph and the textbook under consideration will not make it into the schools.

A final thought: the textbook isn't just "anti-atheists." It's actually anti "evo-atheists." I think it, the book, is as much of, if not more of, a criticism of evolution than of atheism. Atheists just get lumped into the evolution crowd. (Granted, atheists by definition cannot believe in "Creation" because Creation implies God, but maybe there are some atheists out there who believe in something other than evolution, but what that would be, I don't know. Maybe that UFOs and aliens are responsible for man's appearance on earth?)

[Darth Wong]

How accurate is the Hank Hill stereotype of Texan pride? He bases his entire sense of self-worth on mindless conformism to a broad-ranging set of mandated behavioural and cultural stereotypes. Obviously it's a comedic exaggeration, but if there is any kind of substance to the unspoken accusation built into his character, it explains a lot. Anything that does not conform to Texas norms is something that "just ain't right" and that's all the "logic" he needs.

[Kanastrous]

Considering my brother's neighbors in the Dallas area, I don't think that Hank Hill is really all that far out there as comedic exaggeration. Although I'm basing that upon an exceedingly small representative sampling.

[Elfdart]

I'd say roughly two-thirds of the white male population in Texas over the age of 35 are Hank Hill types (or Hank's buddies). I've lived here over 20 years and I can say he's no exaggeration. Rednecks think he's a hero.

[TheFeniX]

Using Hank Hill to emphasize stereotypical white-redneck Texans is actually less insulting considering Hank's track record of tolerance concerning Gay Rights, his nieces numerous sexual transgressions, and his son dating a Laosion (read: non-white) girl. Some idiot "git ur done" type comparing himself to Hank Hill is hilarious. I only catch the show occasionally, but I always found Peggy Hill much more insulting than Hank.

[Darth Wong]

Using Hank Hill to emphasize stereotypical white-redneck Texans is actually less insulting considering Hank's track record of tolerance concerning Gay Rights, his nieces numerous sexual transgressions, and his son dating a Laosion (read: non-white) girl. Some idiot "git ur done" type comparing himself to Hank Hill is hilarious. I only catch the show occasionally, but I always found Peggy Hill much more insulting than Hank.

Frankly, while it's good that he's more tolerant where his immediate family and friends are concerned, that is not exactly a deviation from the small-minded rural stereotype.

[Lonestar]

How accurate is the Hank Hill stereotype of Texan pride? He bases his entire sense of self-worth on mindless conformism to a broad-ranging set of mandated behavioural and cultural stereotypes. Obviously it's a comedic exaggeration, but if there is any kind of substance to the unspoken accusation built into his character, it explains a lot. Anything that does not conform to Texas norms is something that "just ain't right" and that's all the "logic" he needs.

I would consider it to be reasonably accurate.

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).

For some damn reason I thought about half the state lived in rural areas, my bad.

As for textbooks, my 2007 copy of Lies my Teacher Told Me says "Textbook adoption boards come under enormous pressure from rightwing conservative groups in Texas and California"(in the notes in the back it says Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and California make up more then a 4th of the market and exert enormous leverage on the publishers). While not at the level I said earlier(I must have misremembered that as well) it goes to show who K-12 Textbook publishers have to market to in this country.

[Tahlan]

How accurate is the Hank Hill stereotype of Texan pride? He bases his entire sense of self-worth on mindless conformism to a broad-ranging set of mandated behavioural and cultural stereotypes. Obviously it's a comedic exaggeration, but if there is any kind of substance to the unspoken accusation built into his character, it explains a lot.

Personally, I'm not sure, because I've only watched a handful of episodes over the years. But from what I have watched there is some "substance to the unspoken accusation built into his character."

I recall a lecture from a professor who enumerated several reasons for the Texas mindset/mentality/dogma. Some of those reasons which I remember are:
~Texas is the only state in the Union that was once its own sovereign nation; independence and self-determination is in our blood
~Texas is such a big state that for the majority of its history most of its people lived in isolated rural settings perpetuating the idea and need for being self-sustaining and independent
~The current Texas Constitution was a reaction to a state administered by the "carpet baggers" when Texas was "occupied" after the Civil War. When the occupation was over, the Texans ran most of the notherners out of the state, changed their laws, and came up with the current Constitution

Anything that does not conform to Texas norms is something that "just ain't right" and that's all the "logic" he needs.

Imagine what Hank Hill would say about you and SDN! "There's something very wrong with that boy...he just ain't right." The time to worry is when Hank Hill thinks SDN is the greatest thing since white sliced bread. Right?

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).

Yeah, the "redneck" mentality goes far beyond just the rural areas; it's insidious and percolates through the entire culture down here.

For some damn reason I thought about half the state lived in rural areas, my bad.

Not to worry, so does the rest of the world. Just as the world thinks we rode horses to school, we carry six shooters on our hips, and we're all oil tycoons. There is a lot of stereotypical thinking out there as to what a Texan is and isn't; some of it deserved, some of it not.

As for textbooks, my 2007 copy of Lies my Teacher Told Me says "Textbook adoption boards come under enormous pressure from rightwing conservative groups in Texas and California"(in the notes in the back it says Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and California make up more then a 4th of the market and exert enormous leverage on the publishers). While not at the level I said earlier(I must have misremembered that as well) it goes to show who K-12 Textbook publishers have to market to in this country.

No doubt that conservatives exert a lot of pressure, but there were/are enough liberals to elect a democratic, and as some would say, liberal president, and so I would think that there are enough liberals out there to counteract the pressure exerted by the conservatives regarding textbooks.

[Lonestar]

Not to worry, so does the rest of the world. Just as the world thinks we rode horses to school, we carry six shooters on our hips, and we're all oil tycoons. There is a lot of stereotypical thinking out there as to what a Texan is and isn't; some of it deserved, some of it not.

I lived in Texas and went to A&M, it seemed as if half the fish in my company came from the sticks.

No doubt that conservatives exert a lot of pressure, but there were/are enough liberals to elect a democratic, and as some would say, liberal president, and so I would think that there are enough liberals out there to counteract the pressure exerted by the conservatives regarding textbooks.

That's a poor example, a rather goodly chunk of the votes for Obama came from first time voters, young people who don't have as much a stake in Public School Textbooks.

[Wicked Pilot]

The battle over science textbook standards has been going on since 2003, and every time sometime like this has come up it got utterly smacked down. Just back in January a provision to teach 'strengths and weaknesses' was shot down. See here. But like the whack-a-mole game at the kiddie arcade every time you hit a stupid creationist idea over the head with a mallet another one pops up. It helps that Austin, the capitol, is quite a liberal city with vast reserves of highly educated folks, especially UT people, who come out of the woodwork to fight this stupid bullshit whenever it comes up.

[Tahlan]

I lived in Texas and went to A&M, it seemed as if half the fish in my company came from the sticks.

OK, Lonestar. You just told me you're an Aggie (asuming you graduated from Texas A&M. Me, it was 4 1/2 years of post-graduate work at Texas Tech). And everyone knows that Aggies are a bit "off." Just kidding, my friend. But, yes, you going to Aggieland does explain a lot, especially as to what you saw and experienced. Many, but certainly not all, of the Aggies I know lean towards fundamentalism and being a bit redneckish. Is that what you experienced during your tenure at A&M?

[Darth Wong]

No doubt that conservatives exert a lot of pressure, but there were/are enough liberals to elect a democratic, and as some would say, liberal president, and so I would think that there are enough liberals out there to counteract the pressure exerted by the conservatives regarding textbooks.

That's a poor example, a rather goodly chunk of the votes for Obama came from first time voters, young people who don't have as much a stake in Public School Textbooks.

Also, the fact that "some would say" Obama is a flaming liberal does not mean he actually is one. He's actually quite conservative.

[Darth Holbytlan]

I grew up in Austin, easily the most liberal city in Texas, and attended the science magnet HS (with its higher concentration of educated students). And I was easily the most liberal person I knew in class. If anything, I've gotten more liberal since then, but since moving to Portland I find that I'm actually somewhat middle-of-the-road. That's how conservative Texas is.

I think someone mentioned that it was disobeying orders to stay in the Alamo when the subject was covered in school, but it still was clearly a Damned Heroic Thing for them to do and doesn't David Bowie look cool in that coon-skin hat and, oh look!, we beat Santa Anna because a prostitute distracted him at just the right time. Remember the Alamo!

Ahem... Excuse me.

The battle over science textbook standards has been going on since 2003...

It's been going on a lot longer than that. I got out of Texas during the mid '90s, but I remember science textbook standards issues flaring up on pretty a regular basis.

[Kanastrous]

I think that was Jim Bowie.

And it was Davy Crockett who made the raccoon-skin cap famous.

[Darth Wong]

I think that was Jim Bowie.

Indeed. David Bowie would have been really out of place at the Alamo.

And it was Davy Crockett who made the raccoon-skin cap famous.

It seems like a really stupid-looking fashion statement to me. I guess you had to be there.

[Kanastrous]

It's a way of walking around broadcasting I KILLED THIS! I KILLED THIS! I KILLED THIS! without having to actually say so explicitly.

And a way of keeping your head warm in an era before insulating synthetic materials.

[Darth Holbytlan]

I think that was Jim Bowie.

Indeed. David Bowie would have been really out of place at the Alamo.

And it was Davy Crockett who made the raccoon-skin cap famous.

It seems like a really stupid-looking fashion statement to me. I guess you had to be there.

That's what I get for posting late at night. Now I'm getting a grand image of David Bowie defending the Alamo...with rock and roll!

[Oskuro]

That's what I get for posting late at night. Now I'm getting a grand image of David Bowie defending the Alamo...with rock and roll!

Or the power of his thightly-fit pants! As demonstrated here.

Now, partially back on topic, I must say people around here can't believe it when I relay these discussions to them. We have our fair share of conservative nutjobs around here, but no one pushes the boundaries of zealotish ignorance as the US Conservatards.