I thought this video would be a reminder that as bad as Donald Trump is, and he is indeed quite bad, his running mate is not really muhc better.
Pence's ignorance concerning what constitutes a "theory" in science and his argument for why it should be taught alongside Creationism is almost painful to watch.
But we need to constantly remind ourselves that THESE are the people making our laws, influencing our culture, and helping to decide what gets taught to our children.
And this one wants to be the Vice President of the United States.
As President Obama would say, "Don't boo, vote."
Oy vey....
ReplyDeleteThe word "theory" in scientific terms is specialized to mean a working understanding. Gravity is a theory.
ReplyDeleteThe fundies consistently use theory to simultaneously mean both theory and hypothesis in the same statement. Even though it's logically illegitimate, it seems to consistently make them smirk and feel clever.
DeleteAs a science teacher the FIRST thing I did was to make sure students knew the scientific terms theory and hypothesis, and how the use of theory to mean "guess" does NOT apply to the world of science any more than "hot" to describe a person has nothing to do with thermodynamics.
Deletethe repugs were just born that way - their brains are wired werid
ReplyDeleteA neuroscientist explains what may be wrong with Trump supporters’ brains - "Essentially, they’re not smart enough to realize they’re dumb...the Dunning-Kruger effect — one’s ignorance is completely invisible to them."
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/08/a-neuroscientist-explains-what-may-be-wrong-with-trump-supporters-brains/
For the life of me, I cannot understand how these crazies came to be elected in the first place. Many of them attended public schools before the fundamentalists got control of the school boards and before so many churches lost so much touch with their early teachings. It's mind boggling.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
Punce the Dunce is an evangenital moron, he is a convert to the most extreme Xtian of cults. A vile, little man. The state IQ of Indiana goes up 10 points every time he leaves it...
DeleteOT (kinda) - spread this one far and wide !!! good for a laugh but will also get under Trump's skin - so a double bonus
ReplyDeleteThe USA Freedom Grown-Ups Are Donald Trump’s Worst Nightmare
"“The Late Show” host introduced a spoof adult version of the USA Freedom Kids for a segment in which he blasted the GOP presidential candidate for allegedly stiffing the all-singing and all-dancing youngsters following their performance at one of his rallies in Florida in January.
“Well folks, Donald Trump thinks he can get away with this, but I’m going to hold him accountable and get his attention with a flashy song-and-dance number,” Colbert said."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/usa-freedom-grown-ups-trump_us_57a45e6ae4b021fd98783adc?section=&
Colbert stuck it Drumpfie; good for him.
DeleteAlso too, that girl in the back, the tall one with the beard -- what's her phone number?
It was hilarious. I stayed up late to watch it.
DeleteDid everyone catch the bearded guy in the back?
I'm glad Colbert is sticking it to Drumpf nightly and every time at a different angle. Tonight he hammered home the businessman that consistently doesn't pay his workers. I think choosing this example was great.
They wouldn't pay them $2500 but would give them a table to sell their CDs. Then the cheap-ass wouldn't even provide them with a freakin' table.
If Drumpf is so rich, cut them a check for that $2500. That's chump change, right?
Evolution isn't something that you either believe or disbelieve...
ReplyDeleteevolution is something you either understand or don't understand.
^^^ this. well said.
Delete+10
DeleteExactly, Randall! Take a hike off a tall tree and your BELIEFS won't matter! But before you hit the ground, you will UNDERSTAND the theory of gravity. By bringing Creationism into the science classroom, the religious zealots are mixing not apples and oranges but apples and t-shirts. The Bible, along with the US Constitution, would inform these misinformed zealots. If only they would read and learn.
DeleteOT: Good Read-Police FEAR:"“it certainly contributes to hypervigilance on the part of the police,” Stamper says. “Vigilance is one thing, hypervigilance or excessive vigilance, begins to suggest — in the non-clinical sense of the term — police officers becoming paranoid. That’s never a healthy thing.” FEAR!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.salon.com/2016/08/05/the-war-between-police-and-the-nra-open-carry-laws-make-cops-jobs-virtually-impossible_partner/
NOW THIS: A CLASS
Delete"Hate crime legislation currently only applies to attacks based on race, sexual orientation, national origin, and religious affiliation. But this new legislation would classify cops as a protected class, aligning them with ethnic and religious minorities and the LGBT community."
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/08/04/3805141/ny-blue-lives-matter/
NOW!
Deletehttp://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/trump-fraternal-order-of-police-226717
6:42am
DeleteIt's about time. Could you imagine the feeling of vulnerability that police officers must have now with all the hate against them?
Still, I doubt this would make people think twice before murdering cops.
I don't know what schools Pence was taught in, but in the ones I attended I was taught the Theory of Evolution - it was always referred to that way. The way Pence is talking it sounds like he was taught "The Fact of Evolution", and if so, I would like to see any textbook that referred to it this way.
ReplyDeleteAs for the difference between "theory" and "fact", I was taught that a theory supports known facts, and can be modified over time as newer facts are discovered that may modify or even disprove a theory. So far, unfortunately for Pence, as more facts are discovered, the theory of evolution has been strengthened over time.
As far as Creationism goes, I was taught that in church. It was never supported by facts, but simply beliefs. I always had trouble with many things taught in church, including talking snakes, and woman being created from man. In fact, Creationism seemed to disprove the possibility of "man" being made up of many different colors and features, given that if evolution did not take place, we would all look identical. If guys like Pence got his way, we would all probably be refused entry into the United States since we would all look middle eastern.
Churches already have more than enough legal protections to preach whatever dogma they wish, so let them teach faith in churches, and keep facts, not faith, in schools.
This is FACT and LAW: Transgender Bathrooms to voter suppression is at stake!
ReplyDelete"Breyer’s vote in G.G. raises serious doubts about whether these pro-voting rights decisions are safe or not. Sure, Breyer is likely to vote to strike these laws down on the merits — just as he is likely to eventually side with Gavin Grimm if the Court decides to give G.G. a full hearing. But an eventual vote on the merits won’t be enough to stop these voter suppression laws from impacting the 2016 election if Breyer shows the same “courtesy” in voting rights cases that he did in G.G..
Indeed, the potential for irreversible harm is even greater in the voting rights cases than it is in G.G. Though resolution of the G.G. case could be delayed until late June, it is possible — even if the Court agrees to give the case a full hearing — that the Court could dispose of this case as soon as this winter, especially if the Court splits 4-4 and there is no need for the justices to write opinions. Breyer’s courtesy vote may only delay Grimm’s ability to enjoy his full civil rights, without preventing Grimm from ever attending a high school free from discriminatory policies.
In the voting rights cases, by contrast, conservatives only need to delay resolution of the cases until Election Day this November for Republicans to benefit from the challenged voter suppression laws, assuming that Breyer gives them another courtesy vote in those cases. And once the election has happened, the voters who were disenfranchised by those laws will never have the opportunity to vote in the November 2016 election again."
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/08/04/3804996/inexplicable-courtesy-elect-donald-trump/
"Twice as many Republicans are unsure about the evidence of global warming as they were a year ago" DOUBT!
ReplyDeletehttp://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/08/04/3805075/donald-trump-inspires-climate-change-doubt/
Well, Pence has definitely got that preacher cadence down pat.
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with teaching creationism in school just as long as it's approached in a scientific way. Begin with God. Who is he? How was he created? In what form does he exist? How did he pull together the raw materials to fashion the universe and all it in? Is he a solid, a gas, an entity?
ReplyDeleteGoodness, hope, and optimism are uniquely human, and not bad things to strive for. They can certainly be comforting. We can even call them God. The place for this is church, not school.
Excellent!
ReplyDeleteMike Pence, doing his part to doom the Trump/Pence campaign.
And here I thought he was a slacker.
Maybe Pence should change churches, obviously his is not up to his standards and is not teaching creationism or does Mikey sleep in on Sundays?
ReplyDeleteFine they can teach creationism along with the Bible, Talmud, Koran etc in literature class and we can teach evolution in church.
They chant 2nd Amendment rights so often; they keep “forgetting” the one about separation of church and state.
Forgot to add, if they want to teach creationism in schools, they should take away the non profit, tax exemptions from churches.
ReplyDelete"I believe". Big fucking deal. What you 'believe/feel' should not be taught in the classroom. It IS NOT SCIENCE.
ReplyDeleteScience updates itself periodically when new evidence is unearthed. The stone age book does not.
My grandmother and her tribe had to rely strictly on the great outdoors. They had a religion too. I think it was magical thinking but it also got them through a lot of hard times. Our elders use to whisper about Shaminism, because the local church frowned on any talk of our old ways. My grandmother accepted the white man's religion but she was indoctrinated into what she believed in from the day she was born. It always caused a big divide in our communities. Our common sense self said listen to your gut instinct and your intelligence, and another way said listen to the preacher man. Nine out of ten, the preacher man had his hands down our kid's pants. But my people have a devout nature, and we listened and still do. But I now listen to my gun instinct. If the vibe is bad, then I know something ain't right. I go with that. It's called common sense. Everything about Donald Trump and Mike Pense, and the Republican party makes my stomach turn. I will go with that.
ReplyDeleteCharles Darwin can rest in peace, Pence is the missing link. Why confuse kids with teaching bible fiction and science along side each other?
ReplyDeleteIt is similar to celebrating Santa Clause at Christmas and the Easter Bunny and Halloween in Christian churches.
DeleteWhat is a child to believe in terms of Jesus Christ the New Testament?
dowl