Er, "evolution" is a perfectly good generic term for any process of change. It doesn't have to refer to Darwinian evolution. Landscapes evolve just as organisms do, albeit by different mechanisms; and the movement of glaciers is one of the primary mechanisms of the evolution of landscapes.
Her choice of words for her description of that particular landscape was perfectly appropriate, not (from a fundie perspective) a slip of the tongue, nor (from a nonfundie perspective) an attempt to ingratiate herself with progressives.
I'm not a Palin fan (huge understatement), but some of her views have been egregiously misrepresented. There's no evidence in her public statements that she's a creationist, for example. She's said, "I'm not going to pretend I know how all this came to be."
"As the ceremony concluded, I bumped into her in a hall away from other people. I congratulated her on her victory, and took her aside to ask about her faith. Among other things, she declared that she was a young earth creationist, accepting both that the world was about 6,000-plus years old, and that humans and dinosaurs walked the earth at the same time." (source - http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2008/09/saradise-lost-chapter-sixten-palins.html)
And there was this in the Huffington Post - "Though in her race for governor she called for faith-based "intelligent design" to be taught along with evolution in Alaska's schools, Gov. Palin has not sought to require it, state educators say." (source - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/28/palin-claimed-dinosaurs-a_n_130012.html)
But my post was quickly done and poorly written, so I've deleted it. (I'll return to her as subject matter in the future, however).
Yeah, that's hearsay, not a "public statement." I wouldn't be surprised to find she's a lot more certain about "how all this came to be" in private than she lets on in public.
HuffPo is correct to note that she hasn't attempted as governor to impose her religious views on school curricula.
And I don't know what she said during her campaign for governor, but during the presidential campaign she said she thought evolution should be taught as an "accepted principle." She said she thought it should be possible for students to discuss creationism in science class, but that it didn't have to be part of the curriculum.
With regard to sex education, she said she thought kids should be taught about the use of condoms. So even if she believes in abstinence, she doesn't believe in abstinence-only sex education.
The bottom line for me is that there are way more than enough entirely legitimate reasons to oppose Palin being in any position of power in government (and I look forward to reading yours). I just resist the bogus objections that have been carelessly promoted by many in the media and the progressive blogosphere.
Can you imagine a presidential debate between Obama and Palin?
ReplyDeleteClearly humans enter the evolutionary tale of mountains by sticking an oil rig on top of them.
ReplyDeleteEr, "evolution" is a perfectly good generic term for any process of change. It doesn't have to refer to Darwinian evolution. Landscapes evolve just as organisms do, albeit by different mechanisms; and the movement of glaciers is one of the primary mechanisms of the evolution of landscapes.
ReplyDeleteHer choice of words for her description of that particular landscape was perfectly appropriate, not (from a fundie perspective) a slip of the tongue, nor (from a nonfundie perspective) an attempt to ingratiate herself with progressives.
I'm not a Palin fan (huge understatement), but some of her views have been egregiously misrepresented. There's no evidence in her public statements that she's a creationist, for example. She's said, "I'm not going to pretend I know how all this came to be."
This would be considered hearsay evidence:
ReplyDelete"As the ceremony concluded, I bumped into her in a hall away from other people. I congratulated her on her victory, and took her aside to ask about her faith. Among other things, she declared that she was a young earth creationist, accepting both that the world was about 6,000-plus years old, and that humans and dinosaurs walked the earth at the same time." (source - http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2008/09/saradise-lost-chapter-sixten-palins.html)
And there was this in the Huffington Post - "Though in her race for governor she called for faith-based "intelligent design" to be taught along with evolution in Alaska's schools, Gov. Palin has not sought to require it, state educators say." (source - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/28/palin-claimed-dinosaurs-a_n_130012.html)
But my post was quickly done and poorly written, so I've deleted it. (I'll return to her as subject matter in the future, however).
Yeah, that's hearsay, not a "public statement." I wouldn't be surprised to find she's a lot more certain about "how all this came to be" in private than she lets on in public.
ReplyDeleteHuffPo is correct to note that she hasn't attempted as governor to impose her religious views on school curricula.
And I don't know what she said during her campaign for governor, but during the presidential campaign she said she thought evolution should be taught as an "accepted principle." She said she thought it should be possible for students to discuss creationism in science class, but that it didn't have to be part of the curriculum.
With regard to sex education, she said she thought kids should be taught about the use of condoms. So even if she believes in abstinence, she doesn't believe in abstinence-only sex education.
The bottom line for me is that there are way more than enough entirely legitimate reasons to oppose Palin being in any position of power in government (and I look forward to reading yours). I just resist the bogus objections that have been carelessly promoted by many in the media and the progressive blogosphere.