It's been an exciting, even climactic final week of the hit trial,
Kitzmiller et al vs. Dover School District, the
second trial in less than a century to determine whether America will fully join the Enlightenment. Closing arguments were on Friday, but "Pseudoscience Saturday" just has a special ring to it. (Read about the final day of the trial at the first link above.)
Below the flip, then, the "myth" of separation of church and state, the magical evolving designed amoeba, and other entertaining and alarming Ignorance on Display!
First, as the
Wedge Strategy outlines (see a related note about said strategy as it relates to the trial
here), the biology curriculum may have been only the first target of the Dover School Board, Righteous:
During cross-examination by plaintiffs' attorney Eric Rothschild, [Assistant Righteous Board Superintendent Michael] Baksa testified that not long after he started his job in fall 2002, [Alan] Bonsell gave him a copy of the
The Myth of Separation: What is the Correct Relationship Between Church and State, by David Barton, which states
the separation is a mischaracterization of the law.
"When I received the book from Mr. Bonsell ... Mr. Bonsell expressed a desire to me that the students learn about the founding fathers and the Constitution," Baksa said.
In an e-mail dated Oct. 19, 2004, social studies teacher Brad Neal wrote Baksa, "In light of last night's apparent change from a 'standards driven' school district to 'the living word driven' school district, Mr. Hoover and I would like some direction in how to adapt our judicial branch unit. It is apparent that the Supreme Court of the United States has it all wrong. Is there some supplemental text that we can use to set our students straight as to the 'real' law of the land?"
You recall Alan Bonsell. He's the hapless former President of the School Board, Righteous, who tried to hide the fact that supplementary textbooks were donated by a church, upon solicitation by Bill Buckingham, chair of the curriculum committee. He and Bonsell are cut from the same cloth, it seems, as he also believes the separation of church and state to be a ruse. From trial transcripts, Day 16 AM:
Q: And in fact at that board meeting you said that you believed the separation of church and state is mythical and not something you support?
A: That's true.
[snip]
Q: And you said that you were concerned about the [biology] textbook because it was laced with Darwinism, isn't that right?
A: That's true.
Q: That's a direct quote, right? 'Laced with Darwinism?'
A: That's what I said.
Damn books! Next thing you know they'll be lacing them history books with equalism and America haters! But when we're done yuking it up at Bonsell and Buckingham, consider this: after Thursday's proceedings, in
public comment to media reps:
Richard Thompson of Thomas More Law Center, which is representing the district, said the separation of church and state is a myth, but he said Baksa testified there was never an effort to give the "Myth" book to teachers or make it part of the social studies curriculum.
Here is the founder of a law firm describing itself as the "sword and shield for Christians in the public square," and a defenese attorney in a constitutional case having the balls to say out loud, Separation is a myth. Hmmm...this case ain't just about evolution anymore, is it? As a matter of fact, Christian conservatives in 30 states are watching this case with great interest, planning similar initiatives
(Reuters).
But don't panic. Be concerned, but do not panic. After all, the folks who implement these policies on the local levels are not, how shall I say it? Are not the sharpest tools in the shed. Here is Bill Buckingham, he of the curriculum committee, on the witness stand being cross-eyed-er, cross examined:
Q: Do you have an understanding in very simple terms of what intelligent design stands for?What does it teach?
A: Other than what I've expressed that scientists, a lot of scientists, don't ask me the names, I can't tell you where it came from, a lot of scientists believe that back through time something, molecules, amoeba, whatever, evolved into the complexities of life we have now.
[Siiigh. No, Mr. Buckingham, that would be, um, evolution that teaches that.]
Judge Jones hopes to make a decision by the end of the year.