I feel much better about living in Georgia now.

Can I comment that I'm tired of people asking me if I "believe" in evolution or global warming,etc.?  Science is not faith-based.  It's evidence compiled and tested over time.  It's theories tried.  Statistics analyzed.  

If we want our children to stay ignorant, let's encourage our school boards to cave in to people who think you should present scientific theories and proofs next to faith in old religious hokum.  I say this as a Christian who believes God just shakes his (or her) head at people like this.

Aunt Phyllis

Because Darwin's theory of evolution didn't catch Frosty. Can't he stick his arm in a lawnmower or something and just get it over with?

Of course there is a very serious side to this story too.  There are few people in American society so ugly as zealous, self-righteous parents, who mistrust their childrens' teachers, and do all they can to impede their childrens' education, whether in sexuality, or evolution, or global warming, or any other subject.

The remark by Mrs. Frosty, suggesting that any criticism of the policy of the US government amounts simply to a charge that the US is evil, and that all such criticism must be suppressed in public schools, is horrifying.  Presumably, though, that is a right-wing trope?

One really needs to study the associations of these apparently linked terms: "dirty hippie," "America-hater," "liberal elite," "Al Gore," and so forth.

Chickens are our cousins! So are other sensitive animals! Enough is enough! No more factory farms!

Sometimes I think the USA must be an advanced country. Then, every now and again, I get reminded that ignorant freaks (with beliefs that make South African tribal witch-burners seem reasonable) weild a lot of power...

The difference between the US and any western European nation is that Frosty Knucklewalker and his ilk would be laughed at, gently patted on the head, and then given some strong medication in Europe. I can imagine that, pretty soon, the school's science lab is going to be named after him.

As we say around here, ag shame (*), you guys really do have a ways to go... at least it makes me feel a little better about our situation here in southern Africa. Thank goodness Mugabe doesn't have the US military at his disposal!

Cheers

Whiskerfish

* pronounced "(guttural)ach" shame - an expression of intense pity.

I finally created an account just so I could tell you how much I enjoyed your commentary on that jaw-dropping story. The insanity of our times is hard to bear; laughter helps. You brought it, and for that I thank you.

   President Bush announced today that a Mr. Frosty Hardison will be his new science advisor.  Said the Prez, "This guy will really sock it to the liberal elites, he and Dick Cheney will invite them to go hunting, then Bam! POW!  And hey, do you like that name Hardison, sounds manyly to me, and I know about manly, and Al Gore isn't manly, nor is Saddam, say did you see those pictures on the net of him?  I have the original framed over my desk. Oh?  I'm not supposed to say that?  Well, let's welcome Mr. Frosty and all the little Frostys and hope they do some damage before they melt away.  Where is my mommy?"

patrick (channeling the white house, umm, the one across the road from me)

I'm really perturbed by all of the criticism placed on the school district.  A teacher broke the rules, those rules are being analyzed, and a solution is forth coming.  Why is this such a controversy?

Oh, and why is the only alternative theory to global warming that of the hardcore Christian literalist?  There are other theories, based on sound science showing that climate change is cyclical and that varying degrees of human influence are responsible for global warming.  

This theory, like all scientific theories, needs time and even more research before it should be taught as the only theory...like plate tectonics for example.

Keep in mind it was only 20 or 30 years ago that the scientific community was convinced that we were going to have to deal with a global cooling crisis!  Time has shown that theory to be false.

  The real alternative to global warming should not be the idea that the globe is warming, but rather the idea that the globe is HEATING UP drastically, and that if we don't take DRASTIC measures, we're all doomed.

  So, moderate measures or drastic measures, see, two alternatives!!

patrick

And no, the link didn't help, but thanks, really, it was pretty funny.  

History is a big source of my skepticism but more importantly, pick up any single article about climate change (not one of the literature reviews of multiple articles) and read it...I mean really read it.  What I have always found, and what gives me great respect for the authors, is that while they're pretty sure that humans are causing global warming, they're not 100% sure and they say so.  Any scientist worth his meager pay, and we're all under paid, knows that theory ain't fact and the way that society is building global warming up as fact scares me.  Should we do something about it, heck yes.  Should we revere the scienctific theories about it as fact, heck no.  But that's what most people seem to be doing.

My skepticism comes from people putting faith in theory that is less than 30 years old.  Put your faith in the theory of evolution, the theory or relativity, etc, but be skeptical about global warming.  Live as if it was fact but question those facts.