August 3, 2005

Oh, my, our President

In case anyone is wondering, I managed to avoid talking politics during my family get-together. I have finally learned (at age 40) that such discussions rarely offer anything positive, and often leave people bruised and battered.

Plus, it is just damn frustrating to find out what some people close to you believe. One almost got side-tracked into the Rove controversy when he was badmouthing CU for continuing to employ Ward Churchill. I think his point was that it was unbelievable that Churchill could say what he did and remain employed, all the while other "people" (I think he meant liberals like me) were calling Karl Rove a traitor. (Of course, he is a traitor--what do you call someone who exposes a CIA operative for petty political payback?). I changed the subject by suggesting if he was really mad at CU, he should focus on their football program. Genius! From traitors to hookers and strip clubs!

Now I am back, and reading through the papers. Couple of stories caught my eye. Of course, there is the appointment of John "I hate the UN" Bolton to be the, well, you know, UN Ambassador. Bush will probably next try to appoint David Duke as Ambassador to Israel, or Nigeria. Personally, I think this will ultimately backfire on Bush. He took the reins away from the democrats and actually kind of removes the "obstructionist" label from Reid and others--and makes himself look more and more like a stubborn ass. Annie Lamott puts it this way: "Bush acts more and more like Bam-Bam Rubble, from the Flintstones: 4 years old, out of control--Bam! Bam! Bam!"

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In other news, the Religious Right mullahs are not happy with Bill Frist. Evidently, he has switched sides in the stem cell research debate and now Dobson is saying that Frist has stabbed him in the back. Everytime Dobson speaks, I am reminded that the most dangerous people in the world are those who are absolutely convinced of their own rightness. Dobson certainly qualifies. What an asshole.

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But never fear, Religious Righters! Your resistance to science and knowledge is well understood by the President, who said that Intelligent Design should be taught next to evolution in schools. I think that is called "pandering to your base." Believe that God created the universe if you want, but the problem with ID is not the introduction of God--it is that people are equating faith with the scientific method. You can't test ID, so it isn't science. Pretty simple.

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Speaking of that, how can anyone look at Bush and not believe in Evolution? If anyone reminds us of our close relation to primates, it is our esteemed Prez! :)

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And finally, from Bush's home state. A group has created a "biblical literacy" course and offers it to school districts around the country. No problem, right? After all, no problem with learning about the Bible. Of course, that isn't what this is.

"Chancey's review found that the course characterizes the Bible as inspired by God, that discussions of science are based on the biblical account of creation, that Jesus is referred to as fulfilling Old Testament prophecy, and that archaeological findings are erroneously used to support claims of the Bible's historical accuracy.

He said the course also suggests the Bible, instead of the Constitution, be considered the nation's founding document."


Talk about your trojan horse. Teaching the Bible as inspired is bad enough. That may be true, but it isn't really germane to public schools, and frankly, I resent Christians pushing this crap. Clearly, they get to tell their own kids that the earth is 6,000 years old, or that the Bible is literally the word of God. They don't get to foist such subjective ideas on everyone and pass if off as truth. The last statement, needless to say, I found the most stupid. Perhaps the stupidest thing these people have been pushing. Jefferson would have a fucking heart attack.

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