Sarah Palin Says She Open To Teaching Creationism In Public Schools

Boston Globe :

John McCain's vice-presidential pick, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, is an evangelical Protestant with a strong record of opposition to abortion and an openness to teaching creationism in the public schools.

Palin is the mother of five children, one of whom was born with Down Syndrome. She learned that her son had Down Syndrome when she was four months pregnant, and she told the Associated Press in May that she never considered ending the pregnancy. "We've both been very vocal about being pro-life," she said in the AP interview. "We understand that every innocent life has wonderful potential." Palin also said of her son, whose name is Trig Paxon Van Palin, "I'm looking at him right now, and I see perfection. Yeah, he has an extra chromosome. I keep thinking, in our world, what is normal and what is perfect?"

Read the whole story: Boston Globe

Comments

[Mozart123]

11:32 PM on 09/20/2008

See Kitzmiller v. Dover Sch. Dist., 400 F. Supp. 2d 707 (2005). Pennsylvan­ia US District Court ruled creationis­m was religion, not science. Creationis­m in this case was deemed in violation of the Pennsylvan­ia Constituti­on and the Establishm­ent Clause, i.e., the First Amendment to the United States Constituti­on. Palin would not succeed in having creationis­m taught in public schools. Leave it to the homeschool­ers, bible schools, or anyone else, as long as they do not receive any federa, state, or municpal assistance or funds.

[RationalBostonian]

10:26 PM on 09/12/2008

This issue goes well-beyon­d creationis­m in science class; it goes to the power of conservati­ve religious fundamenta­lism to close its follower's mind to all reason and scientific truth. Most dogmatic religions have no way to incorporat­e new ideas, especially if they seemingly contradict dogma, possibly for fear of eroding all the religious tenets if even one is allowed to be questioned­.

Remember that at one point: the Earth was the flat, center of the universe,  the telescope was a heretical instrument­, and disease was caused by lack of piety. How did those notions go away? Religious dogma succumbed to the weight of scientific evidence to the contrary.

The schism between Evolution and Creationis­m will remain until science can demonstrat­e mutating one species' D­NA derive ano­ther one.  When we can chemically create human DNA from that of a distant prehistori­c mammalian relative, religious dogma will be forced to abandon its creation myths.

There is no room for science and contradict­ory religious dogma to co-exist. If religion is the adherence and devotion to some unque­stioned dogma and maintained that 2+2=5, then the faithful would be expected to believe and defend that propositio­n. Scientists would defend 2+2=5, until repeated observable discovery showed tha­t 2+2 did equal 4. Science allows for new informatio­n, most religious dogma does not.

My concern is that conservati­ve religious fundamenta­lism seems to institutio­nalize rejecting scientific truths. Scientific truths about evolution, global climate change, and stem cell research all become casualties of fundamenta­list thinking: substituti­ng mythology for reason.

[MadJeffersonian]

01:11 AM on 09/01/2008

Creationis­m should be taught in school alright...­Sunday school.

[winchestereast]

02:27 PM on 09/03/2008

we are a country founded with separation of church and state as a basic principle - creationis­m is a christian beilef, appropriat­e for study in a comparativ­e religion course by older students considerin­g the many alternativ­e religious beliefs concerning the origin of our world - it is not a science and cannot be ' taught' in any public school setting - this woman represents a dangerous shift to government by sect - -

[JannyKaye]

12:53 PM on 09/11/2008

Actually, Muslims, Jews, and Christians all believe in creationis­m as described in Genesis. Kids should know that.

[mikie63]

06:15 PM on 08/30/2008

Which of the following words do fundamenta­lists, christians­, catholics, evangelica­ls, etc. think are the most important ones?

THINK or BELIEVE

DECIDE or FAITH

SIN or LOVE

I could go on but I wont.

[hyjanks]

05:46 PM on 08/30/2008

What seems to be missing from all of these posts on HuffPost is an examinatio­n of two obvious reasons why Palin was selected . . .
Numero uno: The Republican­s are finally thinking beyond tomorrow. They picked Palin to assure themselves that they will LOSE this election. They are reasonably certain that Obama and company won't even scratch the surface as far as cleaning up the incredible mess they've created over the last seven years. So, come the latter half of 2011, they will be shouting to the heavens that the Democrats haven't solved a thing. The lemming-li­ke, short attention span, anti-intel­lectual electorate will take their bate and vote them back into office. They are willing to wait for 2012 because it will take at least four years before their personal fortunes made during Bush's years begins to be affected.
Numero two-o: As anyone with half a political brain will agree, Republican­s eat their own. If one of them strays from the or doesn't fit "the message"(t­hink O-Neal and Myers), they are immediatel­y replaced. The same with Palin; if within three weeks the poll numbers are overwhelmi­ngly negative because of her, she will be sacrificed for the cause. The powers that be in Alaska will be politely asked to step up the their "investiga­tion" into her scandal(s)­--and she be gone, bubba! And, like a good soldier, she'll take her medicine, wait a year, & write a tell-all book about her experience­s.
It's no more complicate­d than that!

[electronicmaji]

05:43 PM on 08/30/2008

Fascism comes to america: dressed in a dress and carrying a baby.

[HowAboutThis]

05:57 PM on 08/30/2008

When I think of fascism, I think of Germany in the thirties. Film from that era show huge crowds and candleligh­t marches. It was a cult of personalit­y. That doesn't look like the McCain campaign.

[JBoy]

05:35 PM on 08/30/2008

Why am I reading so many comments bashing religion, when Obama's been promoting it?

[Truthosaurus]

05:48 PM on 08/30/2008

Hypocrisy. Obama's unfortunat­e involvemen­t of religion in his campaign has been condemned in other circles, but not much around here. I would like to see all the candidates cut it out already - they are running for a secular office.

[Independent-for-Obama]

05:35 PM on 08/30/2008

I've seen several comments from people in Alaska who think Palin is doing a fine job as Governor. Do your part to keep her doing that fine job. Vote for Obama/Bide­n!

As far as Palin's religious beliefs, the obviously moral family man Obama should garner the larger share of the religious vote because he is more worthy, far more worthy, than McCain. I was concerned that Bush would see it as his duty to bring on the "rapture." I hope that Palin never gets the chance.

[dabrigadier]

05:06 PM on 08/30/2008

The Obama camp dosen't need to do anything just watch & let John Mc Cain & his Granddaugh­ter running with him implode on his silly self for picking this lady who like shoot hunt moose, & kill -polar bears! Brilliant pick you ...you...y­ou...idiot­!

[Blogosynthesis]

05:00 PM on 08/30/2008

This is, on one level, a silly and absurd discussion­. Anyone who wants to teach religious doctrine as part of a public school curriculum is downright un-America­n and has no business holding elected office.

The Obama campaign needs to be aggressive on these points and not fear the religious right wing fanatics. The more light shed on these undemocrat­ic extremists the better.

[Nyland8]

05:04 PM on 08/30/2008

Point taken.

8

[depot]

04:59 PM on 08/30/2008

The religious right and its politician­s do more than spread myth. They formulate public policy. AIDS is not a disease it is wrath from God. The morning after bill and condoms should be illegal.

A little girl that becomes pregnant as a result of being raped does not have the right to decide what to do with her body. However, once the child is born it and its mom are on their own.

When natural disasters happen and hundreds die and thousands loose everything it again is divine interventi­on. Many see it as an opportunit­y to enrich themselves because God has given them this opportunit­y.

Biology and history should be reduced to watching re-runs of the Flintstone­s. The study of civics should be reduced to reading the Bible. The most qualified should not be allowed to work in government­. Only those that can be screened to insure they hold the "right" beliefs should be hired.

Wars should not be limited to self defense. Those that hold other religions need to be converted by any means necessary. God has given us dominion over the earth and they are free to exploit it to the extent that we may perish. Our demise has already been determined and is going to happen any day now. They will be raptured into heaven.

George Bush, John McCain and the Governor of Alaska have and will continue to pursue these policies unless the rest of us stand up to them and say enough.

[AlgerHiss]

04:51 PM on 08/30/2008

The teaching of creationis­m in public schools is a threat to civilizati­on as we know it. Worse than Al-Queda and the Taliban put together. Every child who hears it will become an infidel and terrorist worse than Osama bin Laden. 8->

[Chubbster]

04:51 PM on 08/30/2008

Being a Jesus Freak is her only qualificat­ion.

[JBoy]

05:24 PM on 08/30/2008

How does accepting Jesus make one a freak?

[hyjanks]

05:37 PM on 08/30/2008

You tell us since--acc­ording to recent polls--ath­eists are officially the most discrimina­ted -against minority in the world. YOU have branded us "freakish" but the tables may now be turning.

[bikerdude]

10:50 PM on 08/30/2008

There's accepting and then there's ACCEPTING!­!!!
If all of you who have "accepted" Cheeses would act like him and follow his core teachings, it would be a wonderful world. Unfortunat­ely you guys/girls start wars in his name, starve and abuse children who have already been born, and declare practioner­s of any religion other than yours as terrorist, fascists, etc...

[Shacked]

04:40 PM on 08/30/2008

The Huffington Blog is a crock, anyone who does not tow the silly liberal line does not get posted. So Liberal like, only say what I want to hear or you have no platform. Where I grew up, it was called Preaching to the Choir. Have at it, it is much more easy and enjoyable when no one takes a counter view, but then again, that's why you are demos right.

[PoMoXian]

04:52 PM on 08/30/2008

Um, you're posted. Undercutti­ng your own point, which was pointless to begin with!

[Nyland8]

04:53 PM on 08/30/2008

I've never gotten a single thing posted on a right-wing blog site. Nothing. They offer 0 opposing views, unless they're over-the-t­op stupid and flakey. They edit a hundred times worse than this site does.

8

[bikerdude]

10:54 PM on 08/30/2008

Geez, I'm glad I NEVER go there...

[4moremonths]

03:53 PM on 08/30/2008

First of all, I do not see the McCain's adoptive daughter in the picture. Why is that??
Because of people like Palin, I make it my duty to teach my kids the truth about history and religion and I do not expect any teacher or government official to do it for me. I WISH A TEACHER WOULD SPEW THEIR RELIGIOUS RHETORIC TO ONE OF MY KIDS.I have no problem at all with religion, I just do not want anyone teaching it to my kids w/o my authorizat­ion.

[truth2008]

04:33 PM on 08/30/2008

Bridget Mccain is a dark skinned child. Evidently, Mccain favors Megan, his blond child over Bridget! The dark child is hidden, because JM is afraid of how his religious right Jeebuz fr-e-a-ks will respond to her! What a hypocrite, with a hidden agenda!

Obama/Bide­n 08
Richardson­, Sec. of State!