Schools Ban Al Gore’s Movie, Suggest Teachers Maybe Do Some Teaching
Federal Way School Board: Apparently Not Getting Enough E-Mail
Federal Way schools restrict Gore film: ‘Inconvenient Truth’ called too controversial
Is our children learning? Probably not, based on the kind of news we hear from Our Troubled Schools. A district in Washington State has banned showings of Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” because Jesus Freaks are angry about Al Gore saying anything about how the Earth is melting and there’s no God to save us…. [I]t’s true that Gore is not a schoolteacher and he shouldn’t be wearing condoms so close to schoolchildren. So movies are finally out of the classroom and the kids might actually learn something, right? Wrong. Schools can still show the movie as long as they show another two-hour movie with an “opposing view.”
Normally, I’m all for obejctivity and exposing students to both sides of an issue. In this case, however, when one side of the global warming argument is empirical, supportable science, and the other is…well, flat earth types convince the earth is 14,000 years old and that Jesus votes Republican…. There comes a time when someone has to step up and say that the job of our public schools is to educate children- NOT indoctrinate them. If parents choose that route, that’s their call and their choice. This is, after all, still nominally a free country.
I’d like to treat the unbalanced hyper-religious wackjobs demanding the pulling of “An Inconvenient Truth” as people who simply think differently. I’d like to, but I just can’t. Honest disagreement is one thing, but willful and dishonest ignorance of objective empirical science is quite another. Ignoring reality does NOT make it any less real; it just exposes you as a dogmatic, close-minded ignoramus. Sort of like this money quote from Chief Nutjob Frosty Hardison, who, rather than be content with allowing people to think him a fool, take matters into his own hands and removes any lingering doubt:
“The information that’s being presented is a very cockeyed view of what the truth is. … The Bible says that in the end times everything will burn up, but that perspective isn’t in the DVD.”
Uh, yeah…because the movie is called “An Incovenient Truth”, NOT “Jesus Camp”. It’s about global warming, not apocalyptic End Times theology. Al Gore’s film doesn’t reflect or acknowledge the Flat Earthers’ apocalytic theology, because global warming has no connection to ANY theology. It’s an issue of empirical science, NOT an ignorant and intolerant theological viewpoint.
After a parent who supports the teaching of creationism and opposes sex education complained about the film, the Federal Way School Board on Tuesday placed what it labeled a moratorium on showing the film. The movie consists largely of a computer presentation by former Vice President Al Gore recounting scientists’ findings.
Wait; let me get this straight. A SINGLE, SOLITARY parent complains, and suddenly the Federal Way School Board is falling all over itself to remake it’s curriculum so it’s more “Flat Earth Society”-friendly? (OHMIGOD…WE HAVE TO HAVE AN OPPOSING VIEWPOINT! WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN??) Have these people lost their @#$!%(& minds??? Do I even need to answer that question?
“Condoms don’t belong in school, and neither does Al Gore. He’s not a schoolteacher,” said Frosty Hardison, a parent of seven who also said that he believes the Earth is 14,000 years old….
Hardison’s e-mail to the School Board prompted board member David Larson to propose the moratorium Tuesday night.
“Somebody could say you’re killing free speech, and my retort to them would be we’re encouraging free speech,” said Larson, a lawyer. “The beauty of our society is we allow debate.”
No, apparently the beauty of our society is that one lone parent who espouses a radical End Times theology can be allowed to bring the education of our children to a halt. Yes, Virginia; one intolerant zealot with an email account can bring the historic separation of Church and State to an end.
Jeebus, people; show a modicum of moral courage, why don’t you??
School Board members adopted a three-point policy that says teachers who want to show the movie must ensure that a “credible, legitimate opposing view will be presented,” that they must get the OK of the principal and the superintendent, and that any teachers who have shown the film must now present an “opposing view.”
The requirement to represent another side follows district policy to represent both sides of a controversial issue, board President Ed Barney said.
“What is purported in this movie is, ‘This is what is happening. Period. That is fact,’ ” Barney said.
Students should hear the perspective of global-warming skeptics and then make up their minds, he said. After they do, “if they think driving around in cars is going to kill us all, that’s fine, that’s their choice.”
Is it any wonder I fear for the future of our country? How the school board’s policy constitutes anything but an endorsement of radical Christianity is beyond me. Apparently, the empirical scientific evidence presented by Al Gore is not science at all…because, well, he was Bill Clinton’s Vice President, and we all know that Clinton got a blowjob in the Oval Office. Therefore, Al Gore has no moral authority whatsoever.
If anyone needs me, I’ll be sitting on the kitchen floor playing Russian Roulette…..
