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From: ccplumb@watnot.UUCP
Newsgroups: sci.misc
Subject: Re: James Burke
Message-ID: <12550@watnot.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 4-Mar-87 01:33:24 EST
Article-I.D.: watnot.12550
Posted: Wed Mar  4 01:33:24 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 4-Mar-87 03:39:41 EST
References: <2818@udenva.UUCP> <7008@ut-sally.UUCP>
Reply-To: ccplumb@watnot.UUCP (Colin Plumb)
Distribution: na
Organization: U. of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 51


 In article <1416@sri-unix.ARPA> salem@sri-unix.UUCP (Bruce B. Salem) writes:
 >In article <646@cdx39.UUCP> jc@cdx39.UUCP (John Chambers) writes:
 >> Oh, yes, another loss:  Back in the 40's and early 50's, we had high-school
 >> biology texts that did a reasonably good job of introducing the concept of
 >> evolution; religious pressure caused the publishers to eliminate this part
 >> of the texts.  Now we have a population that thinks that it is reasonable
 >> to debate whether "scientific creationism" should be taught in schools.
 >> The very fact that they can get away with using such a phrase and not be
 >> laughed out of the room is evidence of how much we have lost on this front.
 >
 >	There are several ways to look at this.
 >
 >	Some possible interpetations:
 >
 >	1) The schools, especially public schools, have been co-opted into
 >thinking they have to please everybody, every minority that has a voice in
 >their community and state, and not offend anyone.

   Unfortunately, there is a point to be made that, since children legally must
 go to school, what they are taught there must be acceptable.  Acceptable to
 whom is a trickier point.  Takers?

 >People don't understand what science claims anymore. They con't distinguish
 >it from non-science, cult or religion.

   Could I ask for evidence of this?  If true, things are worse than I thought.

 >	3) The [U.S.] has gone Conservative.

   True.

 >	4) The opposite view may be the case, the 'fundies are getting smoked
 >out of the pulpet, the Creationists are getting their view aired in a
 >real examination of the issues.

   No comment.	:-)

 >	What do you think? Is it all of these? Are there any more? What could
 >we do about it as technocrates and, some of us, with advanced degrees in
 >science?
 >
 >Bruce B. Salem  UUCP: hplabs!ames!spam!sri-unix!salem ARPA: salem@unix.sri.com
 >SRI International		PHONE: (415) 859-5334
 >PN309 333 Ravenswood St.
 >Menlo Park Ca. 94025

	-Colin Plumb (ccplumb@watnot.UUCP)

 Zippy says:
 RHAPSODY in Glue!