Saturday, November 05, 2005
Dover Closing Arguments
Barbara Forrest's testimony in the Dover intelligent design trial revealed in damning detail the evolution of good old-fashioned creation "science" into intelligent design that took place in successive drafts of the ID textbook Of Pandas and People following the 1987 Edwards v. Aguillard court ruling that banned the teaching of creationism in public schools.
That intelligent design is, after all, nothing but creationism in a cheap tuxedo was made plain for all to see.
Less clearly understood, until now, is that under guidance from the Discovery Institute the position of the Dover Area School Board evolved in a similar fashion. Here's what plaintiff's attorney Eric Rothschild told the court in closing arguments, Friday.
That intelligent design is, after all, nothing but creationism in a cheap tuxedo was made plain for all to see.
Less clearly understood, until now, is that under guidance from the Discovery Institute the position of the Dover Area School Board evolved in a similar fashion. Here's what plaintiff's attorney Eric Rothschild told the court in closing arguments, Friday.
At the same meetings in June when he discussed creationism, Mr. Buckingham also made the unforgettable statement that “2000 years ago a man died on a cross, can’t we take a stand for him now”, and after one meeting said to a reporter that “we are not a nation founded on Muslim ideas or evolution, but on Christianity, and our children should be taught as such.”
Around the time of those June meetings, Buckingham received materials and guidance from the Discovery Institute, the sponsors of theistic, Christian science. After that, Intelligent Design became the label for the board’s desire to teach creationism.
