Creationism to be taught in Queensland schools

[miriam_e]

Oh, for crud's sake! Haven't we learned anything?

Read more here.

They sure are sneaky, these creationists... and persistent! They have learned that a frontal assault doesn't work so they're sneaking in the side door by saying that it will be taught as a historical controversy. It sounds so gentle and reasonable until you realise that there really is no controversy except in the warped minds of the creationists themselves.

Let's not be deceived. We all know what it will be used for. It will be a wedge to promote a myth. Why aren't they wanting us to teach the controversy surrounding the gods of ancient Greece and Rome? How about the Norse gods? Perhaps we should be teaching about Hindu creation myths. Or why one might want to choose Buddhism rather than Christianity. Or Zoroastrianism. Or any of the more than 1,000 major religions. No? I wonder why not. It couldn't have anything to do with the fact that they see this as a propaganda opportunity, could it? They're not really concerned with rationality. They just want somehow to legitimise their insane mythos by having it taught in school, so that they can expand its coverage bit by bit. But school is where we are supposed to become more knowledgeable, not more stupid.

What the hell are the education authorities using for brains!?!

Comments

[miriam-e.livejournal.com]

All good points. I hadn't really considered that it may be largely about winning, and hang the consequences.

The whole abstinence thing really makes me shudder. The statistics on that are so damn clear I'm astounded more people don't take notice. In countries where there is real sex education and there is no brow-beating and moral judgements on condoms and other contraceptives there is a dramatic decline in teen pregancies, teen abortions, unwanted babies sent to orphanages, sexually transmitted disease, and less drop out to take care of unexpected new families.

The tribe thing you mention is such a problem. I think that is something churches feed on so effectively. Unfortunately Fox seem to have learned that trick too.

[dorjejaguar.livejournal.com]

The tribe thing is a problem everywhere, really no matter what tribe one inhabits. There may be a difference as to degree but it's really a human problem.
I've seen people that have really solid logical views be utterly vicious in expressing them and vicious in expressing their hatred of those that don't hold the same views. I can't see how that helps. I know it's frustrating but that behaivor doesn't help bring around others to understanding.

You're right, a lot of churches do. The ones that don't get far less press but they do exist.

Fox... yah, that's almost all they do. It's amazing to me that anyone uses them for an information source. Their crazy crap does make for great comedy though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtlOBa6qa3o

[miriam-e.livejournal.com]

True. I was listening to the Skeptics podcast, but had to stop because even though I am in agreement with what they were saying I think they were often far too snide in their dismissals. I have a lot of religious friends and even though I detest their religions I still like the people. But I understand where the Skeptics are coming from, and from time to time I have to catch myself when I stoop that low too. I've had the good luck to be caught by you recently when doing it. (Caught, as in saved while falling.)

It is hard to shake off the tribal us-vs-them stuff.

[dorjejaguar.livejournal.com]

:)
I think the tribal us/them thing is part of our wiring really. It's something I'm hoping we'll outgrow.

Hey, did you ever finish that last piece of fiction writing you were doing?
I wanted to read it.

[miriam-e.livejournal.com]

I hope we outgrow it. There are some nice indications that some of us are developing a genuine feeling of being citizens of the Earth.

Now there's a coincidence. I was just a moment ago asked the same thing by a Mexican friend, except that she was wondering about the previous one -- last year's NaNo.

Trouble is I've started writing a non-fiction book. I intend to get back and finish all this unfinished crap... eventually. I figure if I write out the outline and begin the thing then I'll have something to do when my ideas all evaporate. :)

[dorjejaguar.livejournal.com]

Yes there are hopeful indications. :)

What are you writing now?

[miriam-e.livejournal.com]

I was carefully considering whether to answer this properly because I'm such a procrastinator. I'm trying to think up strategies to help me complete things. I was wondering if placing expectations on myself bleeds all the enjoyment out of doing stuff. Not sure. I am constantly busy. Most of the time it is doing fairly difficult and time-consuming tasks that I never bother to mention to anybody. But I do them just because I'm obsessively filling a need. For example I recently wrote a nice GUI (graphical user interface) that lets me simply and easily transfer information into and out of my little Palm computer. When I was using MSWindows I could use a GUI to do some of that, but under Linux nothing like it seems to exist, so I wrote it. My interface sits atop a suite of command-line programs that can do far more than the MSWindows interface ever could, but I had to read the manual every time I wanted to use them. Now with my GUI it is easy and self-explanatory. This is the first I've mentioned it to anybody. There is no money in it. It is just stuff I compulsively do. I'd love to use that power for writing.

It is a non-fiction book. :) And I'll make it available online for free. Hopefully I'll also get it published as a dead-tree book too... if I finish. :/

[dorjejaguar.livejournal.com]

:)
"I was wondering if placing expectations on myself bleeds all the enjoyment out of doing stuff. Not sure. "
I've wondered this myself. It's hard to know.
Some things, doing them really seems to come easy. I don't know why this is.
Other things, I need to push myself toward them, but once I'm doing them I seem content enough. Sometimes no pushing works though. *shrug*.
Can't say I really understand it myself.
I do think it may help to sorta get in the groove with an activity, over time building up a practice, so it starts to feel habitual. This can be done a bit at a time, and increased over time.
I'm trying to do this with my dance practice.

Anyhoo, I do find your writing, fiction or non, of interest.
Good luck to you with it. :)

[miriam-e.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the compliment. :)
I seem to have difficult forming habits. I do everything differently all the time, almost nothing runs on autopilot, and am constantly distracted by other things. No day is even remotely like another. Perhaps if there was more order in my life I might get more done... or perhaps it is why I have learned so much. I've tried to develop writing habits and I know it definitely works for some other people because I've heard them sing its praises, but I am damned if I can work out how to.

Example: Yesterday I was thinking that I must get stuck into working more steadily writing this book, but last night, about midnight, a wonderful story idea flashed into my head. I got out of bed and wrote it down, then went back to sleep. Today the damn idea won't let me alone and I haven't got any work done. :( Gah!

[dorjejaguar.livejournal.com]

:)
I understand.
Can't say I have an easy time of making habits but there are some things I'm pretty determined to make habits (because if I don't it'll largely be a waste of my time to do it at all) so, slowly I'm beginning to create grooves in my life for these things.
I think of it as kind of creating a muscle memory so that if I do certain things often enough it will begin to feel natural. It's unlikely to feel natural for a while but in time it can.

I do have a lot of faith in following natural impulses though. Our curiosity and desires given rein can be very fruitful.

[belegdel.livejournal.com]

It is hard to shake off the tribal us-vs-them stuff.

I can't help thinking the internet is partly responsible for the resurgence in tribal thinking. By enabling like-minded people to essentailly gather and support each other, its essentially removed physical restrictions against localised groups forming large, effective organisations.

Kind of a double-edged sword because it's great for the lone outsider needing support.

[miriam-e.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought of it like that. Good point.

[dorjejaguar.livejournal.com]

And yah, the sex education thing is absolutely clear.
What people who push for abstinence only education seem to have a problem with is that people might actually have sex without terrible consequences. They seem to think teenagers will be fucking in the street or something.
Personally I think that has a lot to do with shame around sex (which is of course taught), and fear of women being empowered.

I have a hard time believing they actually think abstinence only education will work but I guess if they had it and someone gets pregnant they feel they can then shame that person and I guess that's suppossed to be some kinda plus. God knows it would be a horrible world if we couldn't point the finger and say "whore!", "slut!" and have those words still mean something.

I was raised being told I wasn't suppossed to have sex till I got married. Sex of *any* kind.
Frankly I feel that's pretty abusive. Shaming a person for wanting what they can't help wanting, it's wrong, and damaging.

[miriam-e.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought of it as abuse, but of course you're right. It lays a trap that instinct and often peer pressure lure them into, then when the trap is sprung they are vilified. As if there was ever any doubt that it would catch most kids. Sad.

[dorjejaguar.livejournal.com]

What I know is that it was incredibly painful. I'm sure it's a large part of why the suicide rate is so high among homosexual teens.
I'm sure if it's abuse it's part of an abuse cycle, meaning that the abuse was done to the ones that end up abusing their own children.
My father was able to give much more acceptance than he was taught, my mother not so much, although it's hard to tell exactly considering how she's been pretty closed mouthed as regards her childhood.

It is sad but I do see change and that makes me happy. :)

re sex education

[dorjejaguar.livejournal.com]

Good news! This made me happy: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127514185&sc=fb&cc=fp