On the (right) wings of a Dover

"On Tuesday, voters in Dover kicked out eight of the nine members of a school board that decided intelligent design (ID) should be taught in ninth-grade science classes.

One seat is being disputed, but that won't change the outcome: ID - the argument that natural selection is an insufficient explanation for the complexity of life forms, that an intelligent force must be involved - just got rejected at the polls.

Also on Tuesday, the Kansas state school board voted 6-4 to rewrite state science standards. In bland but crafty language, the standards (which start in 2008) portray the theory of evolution as controversial, even inadequate - a portrait that ranges from misleading to simply false. The standards also redefine the word science, making room for non-natural explanations and phenomena. Hello, ID!

Under Kansas law, local school boards control what's taught. But the state board determines the content of state assessment tests. Rejiggering the standards obviously puts pressure on teachers to cover ID in class.

Five states, including Pennsylvania, now require that students learn about scientific evidence both for and against the theory of evolution. Problem is, there isn't any evidence against it. True, the fossil record is not complete - but that doesn't constitute evidence against evolution. Every piece of concrete scientific evidence richly supports evolution. But, then, this is politics, not science."

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/opinion/13137304.htm

"Broadcaster Pat Robertson has never shied away from delivering controversial statements over the Christian airwaves. He once predicted Orlando might get hit by a meteor as payback for allowing gay pride flags to fly on its streets. In August, he called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez after Chávez criticized U.S. policy - a remark he later retracted.

Yesterday, he turned his attention to the embattled community of Dover in York County, suggesting its people might suffer some divine wrath for having just elected school board members who support evolution.

During an episode of The 700 Club, Robertson said the people of Dover should not bother seeking God's help in a disaster because "you just voted God out of your city on Tuesday. "I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God; you just rejected him from your city."

Six hours later, Robertson issued a response to the news media, saying he was "simply stating that our spiritual actions have consequences... . God is tolerant and loving, but we can't keep sticking our finger in his eye forever."

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/13137318.htm