The American Taliban

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This from Slashdot:

"I've been lackadaisical when it comes to following stories about Texas schoolboard attempts to slip creationism into biology textbooks, dismissing the stories as just 'dumbass Texans,' but what I didn't realize is that Texas schoolbooks set the standard for the rest of the country. And it's not just Creationism that this Christian coalition is attempting to bring into schoolbooks, but a full frontal assault on history, politics, and the humanities that exploits the fact that final decisions are being made by a school board completely academically unqualified to make informed evaluations of the changes these lobbyists propose. This evangelical lobby has successfully had references to the American Constitution as a 'living document,' as textbooks have defined it since the 1950s, removed in favor of an 'enduring Constitution' not subject to change, as well as attempting to over-emphasize the role Christianity played in the founding of America. The leaders of these efforts outright admit they are attempting to redefine the way our children understand the political landscape so that, when they grow up, they will have preconceived notions of the American political system that favor their evangelical Christian goals."

The Texas State Board of Education has already rejected the proposal to teach both the strengths and weaknesses of evolution. That was about a year ago. I think if they are sensible enough to do this, they'll be sensible enough to reject many other proposals from these Christian groups.

Perhaps its pure pragmatism - Texa's oil robber-barons know that "flood geology" and other creationist spin-offs are useless when it comes to predicting oil deposits. Henceforth, they rely on conventional science and hope future rig finders shall be instructed in it.

Wha?!

There's a married couple (Can't remember their name) that has been attempting textbook censorship since the Reagan years. They've threatened lawsuits, tried legal actions, etc., and pretty much have the publisher's panties in a twist for nigh on 30 years. We hardly hold the monopoly on puritanism... Most Texans are friendly folks, and some places like Austin are actually pretty lively after dark...

This is all about imposed religion, I don't think you'll find much about the oil barons (Texas oil is about played out...most of the money is in overseas oil services nowadays) wanting or even caring about the teaching of much more than geology...

Pakled - a dumbass Texan...