-Caveat Lector- ----- Original Message ----- From: gene johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Ric Carter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > From: Bruce Mcneely <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > There is one small problem with this idea - the evidence. I say teach > > evolution and special creation in proportion to their respective > > supporting evidence. The time alloted for special creation should be > > about one nanosecond. > > Supporters of theocracy, having lost the intellectual debate over > creationism vs. evolution, exploit the political system in their > attempt to promulgate their views and wrest power from rational > folk. Of course, science needn't 'prove' anything - science deals > with parsimonious workable explanations, not proof - but theocratic/ > creationist demagogues frame their arguments in terms of 'proof', > and misconstrue the meaning of 'theory', and engage in any other > sophistry sufficient to manipulate political bodies. > > The struggle isn't about proof, evidence, fairness - it's about > power, nothing else. Cretinists are in a can't-win position, > since their 'success' in controlling a region's school system > will translate into the marginalization of graduates of those > schools when they emerge into the real world of higher education > and meaningful employment. Like Marxism, cretinism can't survive > contact with reality-based systems, but thrives only in isolation, > behind ideological walls. Yow. A very powerful analysis, Ric Carter. It rings true of prime reality or what Net jargon labels "real life" (RL). I wonder if your analysis generalizes to the more abstracted virtual reality of the Internet? False assumptions and their encoding via memes can be spread rapidly on the Net. Repetition, repetition is effortless on the Net. Compared to the focal, but short-lived, resonance often created by airwaves and cable broadcast media, output from Net cretinism can be carefully and repetitively targeted in attempts to create almost daily resonance. The type of effect may be a subtle contextual effect. It might be similar to the effects of litter and glitter on our RL environment. Tastelessness; mindlessness. What kind of feedback is required to to reverse and correct that? --GJ *** SkeptiChat: Ver. 0.98.09.27 *** depending on your needs, email "subscribe skeptichat" or "unsubscribe skeptichat" or "info skeptichat" or "help" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om