Florida delivers some good news: their nasty little academic “freedom” bill is dead. Now we just have to worry about similar bills in Michigan, Missouri, Alabama, and Louisiana.
Pharyngula
Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
That’s wonderful news! Waita go Florida!
Hey! My prayer to FSM worked!
That proves that FSM is real!!
Great job and thank you Florida Citizens for Science and the staff at NCSE for all their hard work. At least on this occasion,science and reason has prevailed.
Don’t forget the same stupid bill that is moving along in Arizona.
This is wonderful! I do so hope this trend continues.
Don’t have the worry about the one is Texas. It passed a while ago. Rumor has it, it has been a great help to the creos in violating US law.
Hey Pharyngulans, go to the FCS webpage and give a big thanks to Brandon Haught for keeping us informed with the play by play of the bill and it’s death rest in pieces
I would like to take this opportunity to remind any Fundies in the audience that just because you keep losing doesn’t mean you’re being persecuted.
It just means you’re losers.
I’m proud to be a Floridian again! :-)
Hey fc — Yayyyyy!! Consider this a big hug!
Oh, and James F. – one for you too! :-)
What I found funny was the House spent a full half-hour on the last day giving prizes to the Biggest Losers (weight-loss-wise). Now that’s irony for you.
At least the Biggest Winners turn out to be Florida’s public school children.
Does anyone have details on these other bills?
Please provide. Thanks!
Praise God!
@S.Scott
Thanks!Woot!
@#8 OctoberMermaid
I would like to take this opportunity to remind any Fundies in the audience that just because you keep losing doesn’t mean you’re being persecuted.
It just means you’re losers
Yeeeoowwch! Sick burn!
http://youtube.com/profile?user=STRvideos
Who needs freedom, PZ will tell us all what to think.
Someone sounds bitter. Hmmmmm…. ;)
OT: Ben Stein made Worser Person in the World on Olbermann tonight for “Science leads to killing.”
The Louisiana battle in the legislature is over a “teach the controversy” bill naturally titled the “Louisiana Academic Freedom Act.” Barbara Forrest is leading the fight for our side and has asked us all to contact our legislators. I am still trying to find out if any action was taken this week, and will let you know if I get news.
And MINNESOTA!
Unfortunately it will probably take another court case to repudiate yet another creationist “stealth” strategy for getting their fundamentalist views into the science classroom. Fortunately there are so many more Bill Buckinghams this time to demonstrate the religious motivation underlying this so-called “academic freedom” ploy.
Who needs freedom, PZ will tell us all what to think.
Hmmm. Me thinks that hmmmmm has found somebody else to do his thinking for him.
Big ding dong deal! Until this country gets national science standards these bills will just keep coming. Kill one and there is always another to take it’s place.
“Unfortunately it will probably take another court case to repudiate yet another creationist “stealth” strategy for getting their fundamentalist views into the science classroom.”
If any of these cases make it to the current supreme court, it will be a disaster.
I don’t trust its dead. Me, I’d stake it through the heart, cut its head off and bury it at a crossroads just to be sure.
Today’s Friday May 2nd Wall Street Journal on page A10 had an article about the academic freedom bills. It mentioned a March 2005 poll that showed 76% of Americans would not care if magical creation was taught in public schools, and 34% of Americans would be upset if evolution was taught.
The article also mentioned a biology teacher in the state of Washington, Doug Cowan, who needs to be fired.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120967537476060561.html
Thank you Jebus!
For once Florida got it right.
Don’t forget Oklahoma.
“Does anyone have details on these other bills?”
Here’s some info on a new Michigan bill. We just went through this a couple of years ago.
http://www.michigancitizensforscience.org/main/nfblog/
Silly atheists…don’t you have any faith that Bill can rise from the dead?
If any of these cases make it to the current supreme court, it will be a disaster.
I’m pretty sure I know how Scalia and Thomas would vote, but I’m not so sure about the others. Unless someone is adamant about pushing it that far, I would think that it would dead end again at the federal court level–especially since there has been relatively little attempt to hide the religious motivation for the implementation bills (apart from the FL sponsors). On the other hand, maybe the Disco is shopping for a jurisdiction they think they can win in.
It seems like this should be the end of the line in terms of strategies, but the creo-IDists are a persistent bunch. And if there is anything that the religious right hates more than abortion, it is evolution. Expelled the movie was not intended to influence the general public, it’s aim is to demonize science/scientists in the minds of the next generation of culture warriors. Sadly it will succeed in that regard.
As expected, the DI is already whining about this with its typical dishonest hubris, grandstanding, and persecution-complex spin:
Florida House Republicans Kill Evolution Academic Freedom Measure
Shorter DI: No fair! *stamps foot*
Mr. West seems to think he’s V for Vendetta, telling us that the bills will come again because they’re ideas and “and ideas are bulletproof.”
What he DOESN’T seem to realize is that it’s a BAD idea and, obviously, bad ideas are NOT foolproof.
And Arizona.
Correct me if I’m wrong but hb923 (Academic Freedom Act – Alabama), section 7 states the following:
Nothing in this act shall be construed as protecting as scientific any view that lacks published empirical or observational support or that has been soundly refuted by empirical or observational science in published scientific debate. Likewise, the protection provided by this act shall not be restricted by any metaphysical or religious implications of a view, so long as the views are defensible from and justified by empirical science and observation of the natural world.
Now, wouldn’t this mean that ID cannot be taught since it is not considered scientific and is not “defensible from and justified by empirical science and observation of the natural world”?
We won this battle, but the war will wage on. Hopefully, in true form, this will dampen their spirits.
Wait, now that I think about it, we won a battle in Texas as well just recently and I am sure a few others. PZ, you should start a link/scoreboard that tracks our battle victories.
Yes, the Alabama bill is how to do it. Its wording is perfect.
Although its still in committee, do not forget our own state is dealing with this bullshit.
OKLAHOMA: Rep. Sally Kern’s ‘Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act’ (originally HB 2211)keeps rising from the dead and is now going before the House of representatives as an amendment to HB 2633 where it WILL pass and then go the Governor. The original bill was ‘killed’ in the Senate Rules Committee, where it was not heard upon apparent advice of the Senate leadership. When it arose again as an amendment to HB 2633 in the Senate an attempt by the Democrats to kill it died on a 24 to 24 vote, strictly on a partisan vote. The original bill (HB 2211)passed earlier in the House on a 71 to 25 vote and WILL pass again, likely this week on its way to the Governor.
Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education (OESE, check the URL below for details) has been very active in fighting this legislation, along with the Oklahoma Academy of Science, Oklahoma Science Teachers Association, Oklahoma Mainstream Baptists, Oklahoma State Schools Board Association, Oklahoma City and Tulsa Interfaith Alliances, Oklahoma Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and others. Press releases from these organizations and op-eds, letters to editors, and editorials have opposed the legislation with very little coming from supporters of the bill.
Many individuals have sent messages to the Governor’s Office calling for his veto of HB 2633 with the Kern langauge attached. This very bad bill would open public schools to the infusion of religion into many areas including creationism in science courses. It is identical to a bill in Texas that is now law that is already resulted in law suits.
Oklahomans are strongly encouraged to call or e-mail the Office of Governor Brad Henry asking his veto of HB 2633. NUMBERS DO COUNT. Information on how to contact the Governor is on his website. Easy to use links are provided at the OESE website: http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/oese/
As of April 30, the “Academic Freedom Bill” in Missouri, HS2554, sponsered by Representative Robert W. Cooper (R) district 155 seems to have currently lost momentum in committee (Elementary and Secondary Education).
http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills081/action/aHB2554.htm
Hopefully this is the last we hear of this most current attempt by the CrDesignist in Missouri
Does anyone know the Title/Number for the Alabama bill? I’d like to check it out.
Nevermind,post #35 covered it: hb923
I should have taken the time to search before posting.
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** OFFICIAL THANK YOU **
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Thank You Brandon Haught – Florida Citizens for Science –
for the fantastic coverage you have provided during this legislative session.
Maybe it’s time to give up being “Volusia County Sheriff’s spokesman Brandon Haught” and become “Florida Representative Brandon Haught”.
I’m just saying.
John
Father of 3 in Tampa.