Back To The Good Ol’ Days In The Great State of Tennessee
Posted: March 22, 2012 Filed under: just because 27 CommentsIt’s not often you get to board a time machine and travel back to say . . . 1925. Unless you live in Tennessee. 
I knew I was living in crazy-land when the citizens of this state gave Rick Santorum the GOP win on Super Tuesday. But they’ve broken the mold with the passage of HB 368, affectionately referred to as “The Monkey Bill.” Why the cute nickname? Because we’re back to the days of the Butler Act, where the Tennessee legislature actually made it unlawful to teach the subject of evolution in the state’s public school curriculum. Only the Biblical version would do, thank you very much!
So, here we are in the 21st century with mind-boggling advances in science and technology, medical advances, which would have been deemed science fiction a few short years ago. And how does Tennessee react? A fast dive into superstition and magical thinking. Back to the Scopes trial and Inherit the Wind.
To add to the madness, these pygmies have tried to sell this legislation as a move forward for ‘academic freedom’ and to protect teachers, who wish to present ‘alternative theories’ on evolution and climate change.
What alternative theories? Like this?
I am forever grateful that I did not educate my own kids in the shadow of the Smoky Mountains. But I pity the children of others. We’re in a high-tech world with abundant competition around the globe; competitors would love to cut the US off at the knees. And Tennessee is going to be teaching creationism as a credible substitute to evolution, claiming it will improve critical thinking. As for climate change? I’ve never bought into the instant doomsday scenario. Nor do I think cap and trade is the right way to go. But . . . unless you’re living in an underground bunker, the climate is having a mega-personality crisis. We cannot pretend the changes around the world aren’t happening—glaciers melting, ice shelves breaking apart, bizarre storms, droughts, etc. Nor can we afford resorting to childish positions–God would never let us to destroy ourselves, so let’s party down and pollute everything in sight.
Inherit the Wind
I swear, I do not know what it’s going to take. Some horrific super-cell storm wreaking death and destruction of such proportions that even the Bible thumpers accept reality? Does California have to fall into the Pacific before the scales fall from the eyes of the blind?
The idea that any school would replace science with pseudo-science for political/religious purposes is beyond outrageous. This really is a race for the bottom when politicians are applauded for supporting bills designed to leave children uninformed and ignorant. Did I mention that the Tennessee Senate vote was 24-8? [the House version of this stinker passed last April] Only eight Tennessee Senators had the guts to vote for science. The vast majority hopped on the make-believe train.
The Huffington Post had a piece on this legislative monstrosity. There’s a video at the site that I encourage you to watch—watch until the end. There’s a young man [who unfortunately I believe is for real], questioning the validity of evolution. This is what ignorance sounds like.
The one saving note on this embarrassment is that the 2005 Dover, Pa. case [several school board members had approved intelligent design introduced to the science/biology curriculum] was overturned using Federal precedent. I’d be amazed if this nonsense [assuming Republican Governor Haslam signs the bill] isn’t challenged very quickly. The Tennessee Science Teachers Association opposes the bill, as well as the National Center for Science Education and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
As for Tennessee? It has made itself and its residents a laughing stock. Again. Just to be clear. Though I now live in Smoky Mountain land? I’m a New Jersey native. Even Chris Christie—the Big Guy–believes in evolution and climate change.
I never cease to be amazed at the slide into stupidity we’re watching. But this? This deserves a stupid award.
peej
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I just watched the video, Peg. This is so incredible. And I feel really sorry for that poor boy. He looks like he could be in high school, and he sounds both ignorant and racist. If this is what red state schools are producing, we’re in big trouble.
That kid’s just screwed up! Luckily, in some cases, red state kids are doing OK. I’ve got 5 grand children in good schools in an economically advantaged community north of Dallas. From spending time with them, it seems they are being educated well. No creationism there and I haven’t really seen any god bothering activity when I visit them.
I didn’t mean to generalize–sorry. I actually think home schooling is the worst.
No offense taken BB. I just thought I would allay the fears that all red state kids are educated that badly. 🙂
I was appalled when I heard the kid on that video, BB. Yes, it is definitely racist but it’s all based on a cumulative piling on of ignorance. Why any sane, educated legislator would vote for something like this is beyond me. Unless they want their constituency to remain ignorant sheep. If my kids were still in public school, I’d be ready to take a torch to Nashville.
Ridiculous!
Tennessee is dead-set on herding its citizens back to the dark ages. In the past two years, the Governor and Republican Party have squashed Gay Rights statutes in the city of Nashville, developed laws targeting peaceful protesters and made it illegal to post “potentially offensive images” to the internet. The “Monkey Law” now brings religion back into the classroom by opening debate for creationism. In addition, a new law puts the Ten Commandments back in public buildings around the state. There is a clear cut suppression of progressive thinking by the Republican Party and I addressed these issues “illegally” on my artist’s blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/07/potentially-offensive-portrait-governor.html with a portrait of the Governor to address his party’s absurd agendas.
My theory is that Republicans (and those multimillionaires who fund them) want the general population to be uneducated. That way, they’ll work for very low wages, like those in China & India, and they will continue to vote Republican. Also, when you have next to no money, the only form of “entertainment” you have access to is sex. No sex education, no contraception, no abortion & they will keep pumping out more little worker bees – to work for pennies a day or fight for “their” country. Cogs for the machinery and/or cannon fodder. Isn’t that what the “little people” are for, after all?
I thought of that, too. A democracy requires an informed citizenry which means we are in deep shit.
This is exactly what they are talking about when they scream “state’s rights”.
The state itself holding the right to ban women’s healthcare, cutting programs from the elderly, and teaching crap like this to their kids.
It’s all a “dog and whistle” show for the fundies who have been pushing this stuff since the banning of prayer in public schools became law and they want it back but with even more force.
How do we ever expect to compete in a world wide market when morons like that young boy are being prepared as the future leaders of this nation who cling to a belief that the world was created in 7 days by an invisible being living in another dimension who calls out for bloodshed to meet his demands?
Impossible to consider but all it takes is one state filled with ignoramuses to sweep across the nation as has been happening in states focused on disallowing women the right to choose.
Ignorance is not bliss. It is ignorance.
Gays should be very wary of living in the state of Tennessee.
Yeah, “states’ rights” never made sense to me. Why should a US citizen have it better — or worse — in one state than another?
Jindal gave us one of these abominations last year and we’re trying to repeal it. They call it the Louisiana Science Education Act when it should be called the Louisiana Religious Indoctrination Act.
http://www.repealcreationism.com/
I’m beginning to think some forms of religion are really mental illness in disguise.
The disguise for that mental illness is slipping to!
Here’s Pat Robertson!!!
Manning deserves to get hurt after Tebow trade
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/22/pat-robertson-manning-deserves-to-get-hurt-after-tebow-trade/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRawStory+%28The+Raw+Story%29
“I think the Denver Broncos treated [Tebow] shabbily,” Robertson explained on Thursday. “He won seven games. He brought them into the playoffs, for heaven sakes. I mean, they were a nothing team. He rallied them together with spectacular last-minute passes and, you know, when they beat Buffalo — I mean, Pittsburgh — it was a tremendous victory.”
He continued: “And you just ask yourself, OK, Peyton Manning was a tremendous MVP quarterback, but he’s been injured. If that injury comes back, Denver will find itself without a quarterback — and in my opinion, it would serve them right.”
speaking of mentally ill
Assuming there is a god, doesn’t he/she/it have anything better to worry about than the Denver Broncos? 🙂 Wars, Poverty, Hunger, Thirst, Rape, Greed, Homophobia, Racism, Murder, Homelessness, Disease, not so important that god should intervene, but god’s going to strike down Peyton Manning to avenge Tim Tebow? OMGoddess!
Pat Robertson has no good thoughts, not a single, solitary one. He is one of the guys who thought Hurricane Katrina was a punishment from God aimed at Lesbians & Gays. He recently said that it’s ok for a man to divorce his wife with alzheimers so he can “get it on” with a fully functioning woman. And who can forget his declaration that godde was going to hit Florida with a meteor as retribution for Disney Orlando gay day. He’s just whacked!
And don’t forget, according to Robertson it was the Lesbians and Gays who caused 911.
You mean they didn’t do it 😉
Peggy…..Thanks for great read. One has to live in TN to truly understand what the GOP-TeaParty representation in the State legislature is doing to the State. Their “Don’t say Gay” legislation, that restricts teachers or students from discussing same gender relationships in grades K-8, is stalled in the House and has been replaced by this
http://www.tennessean.com/article/D4/20120321/NEWS/303210042/-Family-life-curriculum-could-replace-Don-t-Say-Gay-bill
This is the year 2012, isn’t it?
Hey, Mouse. Nice to read you again. I’ll tell you for a Jersey girl, Tennessee is a whole different ballgame. I’ve felt like a stranger in a strange land ever since we were transferred down here. But this current GOP push to embrace the 19th century is utterly mind boggling!
Hope the road trip was a good one.
Thanks Peggy, I had a great get away and then I had to come home. 🙂
And I can’t even imagine the culture shock you must be experiencing. I’ve lived in it for a lifetime and I’m still appalled at what this GOP State Legislature and Governor are doing.
They are whacked.
OT, but here’s the latest idiocy out of Wisconsin: http://guerillawomentn.blogspot.com/2012/03/wisconsin-bill-claims-single-moms-cause.html So, I guess if a husband dies from a heart attack or in our holy war then mom & kids should throw themselves on his funeral pyre, so mom won’t abuse & neglect her child(children). And, he’s an expert: never married & no children. But then, as we all know, MEN know best. Us wimminfolk are just too ditzy to do much more than mop, vacuum, dust & cook meals.
There must be something in the water trough that these Republicans are drinking from. Single Moms cause child abuse? The Girl Scouts is a training ground for communists and lesbians. Contraception is immoral. And abortion? We don’t even want to go there–that’s a capital offense.
Can’t believe this moron thinks he’s such an expert–never married, no children. He can sit in the corner with the disgraced priests, as far as I’m concerned. Ugh!
Just don’t ever forget, these idiots never quit!
Tennessee is determined to keep women in their Biblical assigned place — which is under the total domination of the males.
19th century feminists Elizabeth Cady Stanton and a “Revising Committee” wrote a commentary on the Bible and women’s place dictated by this Bible.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/wmn/wb/
What I remember about reading this Bible is that the group of women refused to include comments on the pornographic passages. I remember the passages from reading them as a child — a god ordering women captives to be raped is but one example.
Going back to the bible — and using the bible as a scientific text is profoundly stupid. During the dark ages something akin to De-evolution occurred — and this is what is happening in many Southern states (as well as Idaho and Alaska etc.)
De-Evolution — we are in the early stages of the new Dark Ages. It doesn’t matter which penis is elected BOTH are corrupt and ready to bow to the bringers of De-Evolution.
Love that cartoon!
Linda Greenhouse in the NYT on the ACA and the Supreme Court:
Never Before
OT but a very important issue of the day.