There is an interesting debate going on in St. Petersburg where mayoral candidate Bill Foster is being attacked for his belief in creationism. As Florida’s fourth-largest city, St. Petersburg has tried to attract businesses and industry. His critics claim that high-tech companies are going to get the wrong impression if the Mayor believes that the Earth was created in six days and that man walked with dinosaurs.
Foster once objected to his son being taught evolution in school. Pinellas School Board wanted teaching about alternatives to the theory of evolution, such as the Genesis account and repeated the ridiculous claims that Darwin contributed to the rise of Hitler and the Columbine massacre. We have seen this attack on Darwin by people like Ben Stein and others recently.
Foster, a member of Starkey Road Baptist Church in Seminole, has not backed down from his views during this debate. He insists that Genesis says that the Earth was created in six days and that this is literally true. He argues that man and dinosaurs clearly existed together despite the fact that there is a 60 million year gap between the two species. His proof is that “[d]inosaurs are mentioned in Job, so I don’t have any problem believing that dinosaurs roamed the earth.” Job refers to a “behemoth.”
Foster asks a legitimate question: “How does my knowledge of scientific theory impact my ability to rationally govern the city of St. Petersburg? It’s completely irrelevant.”
When do the radical personal views of a politician become relevant? We have seen Obama, Clinton, and other politicians routinely use their religious views as part of their campaigns. If it is appropriate to use religious views as a positive element in a campaign, it opens the door for its use as a negative element. It is not clear, however, that Foster has used his religious views as part of his campaign. For a prior column, click here.
Foster’s extreme views on education and Darwin may be a concern for citizens given the influence of a mayor on school board policies and candidates. Moreover, do extremist views indicate something about a candidate’s intellect or judgment? Would it be appropriate for a voter to oppose a candidate who belonged to a cult or a controversial faith? What do you think?
For the full story, click here.
“Would you equate a remark that āA Jew is a Christ Killer as being racist?”
Such a remark would be bigoted, but not racist. Jews are not a race. They are a religion and possibly an ethnicity. Hitler and other anti-Jews incorrectly called Jews a race.
billy,
Buddha mentioned in another thread that he is 42-years-old. Regarding the entertainment value, now you know what to look forward to when you get old and retired. Thanks.
I’m 42 Federal LEO, I figured buddha was early mid-30’s, I’m guessing Bob, Esq. 40+. By the way, I would have chosen “No Quarter” by Zeppelin, if I were to pick only one song, for all time, while stranded on a desert island. Federal LEO. great posts, you give me a skiploader’s worth of entertainment..
billy,
Buddha man is just over 40-years-old according to what he has written. Mike Spindell is nigh 65ish and I am a tad younger than him.
Bob (Frog) Esq. is one of them guy who don’t tell their age, like movie star types.
Bob and Buddha, I bet I’m slightly older than you guys, but we listen to much the same music I am guessing, Bob mentioned Floyd, you mentioned, I think Zeppelin, way back when, maybe it the Stones’. Anyways, a buddy of mine posed this question to me, over a couple of ice cold Carta Blancas’, at my favorite Mexican reataurant/watering hole; “if you were stranded on a desert island, and had only “ONE” Zepplein song to listen to, for all time, what would it be? I will tell you guys my song, after you both weigh in..
Buddha,
You have no idea how much of a Waters fan I am. One of the best shows of my life was 8th row at the Meadowlands in 1984 for Waters & Clapton (Pros & Cons Tour).
Anyway, KAOS proved to be rather timeless; wouldn’t you say?
When the cowboys and Arabs draw down
On each other at noon
In the cool dusty air of the city boardroom
Will you stand by a passive spectator
Of the market dictators
Will you discreetly withdraw
With your ear pressed to the boardroom door
Will you hear when the lion within you roars
Will you take to the hills…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q3sP1ZyYHw
Nice montage.
Bob,
Now you’ve impressed me with your musical selection. Possibly Roger Waters best solo work and a greatly under appreciated album.
“Jim: This is some live rock and roll at KAOS, where
rock and roll comes out of chaos and a song called
“The Powers That Be”…
The powers that be
They like a tough game
No rules
Some you win, some you lose
Competition’s good for you
They’re dying to be free
They’re the powers that be
They like a bomb proof cadillac
Air conditioned, gold taps
Back seat gun rack, platinum hub caps
They pick horses for courses
They’re the market forces
Nice car Jack
They like order, make-up, lime light power
game shows, rodeos, star wars, TV
They’re the powers that be
If you see them come
You better run – run
You better run on home
Sisters of mercy better join your brothers
Put a stop to the soap opera right now
They say the toothless get ruthless
You better run on home
You better run – run
You better run on home
The powers that be
They like treats, tricks, carrots and sticks
They like fear and loathing, they like sheep’s clothing
and blacked-out vans
Blacked-out vans, contingency plans
They like death or glory, they love a goood story
They love a good story
Sisters of mercy better join with your brothers
Put a stop to the soap opera state
They say the toothless get ruthless
Run home before its too late
You better run – run
You better run on home
Billy: Goodnight, Jim.
Jim: Goodnight, Billy.
Uncle David’s Great Dane: Woof, woof, woof!
Cute Bob, cute….
Californian Weirdo: I don’t like fish, marine fish
Jim: You are listening to KAOS here in Los Angeles.
Californian Weirdo: I don’t like fish.
Jim: Yes, we’ve established that. Ah! Do you have a
request?
Californian Weirdo: Shell fish, guppy, salmon, shrimp
and crab and lobster, flounder,
I hate fish, but I think most of all I hate
fresh fish, like trout. I hate fresh trout.
My least-hated, favourite fish would be sole.
That way you don’t have to see the eyes.
Sole has no eyes.
Jim: Oh no!
I’d like to be home with my monkey and my dog.
Jim: Thank you.
I’d like to be home with my monkey and my dog.
I’d like to be home with my monkey and dog.
I’d like to be home with my monkey…
Jim: They don’t care. Shut up. Play the record.
http://pinkfloydhyperbase.dk/solo/kaos.htm
gyges,
That was fierce. Percussionists are all a little insane. That’s why I love them so.
Byron,
I’m not saying Bertie wasn’t right. You are arguing to specific instance though and I was arguing to probability of performance across a spectrum of people with like behaviors. It’s a bit apples and oranges. You want to argue to a point in the matrix and I am arguing the shape of the whole performance matrix, not an individual coordinate. Joan of Arc was a great leader in battle. It didn’t mean she was best suited for the job of ruling. That’s why France has an Emperor Napoleon and not an Empress Joan.
All,
If aliens are here, they read this blog. I can’t say how I came by this knowledge. I was never here. This conversation never happened.
(Buddha is furiously looking for his good traveling towel.)
Gyges, I have hooked “steelhead” on the Snake River when fishing, beautiful sight. I tell people that Salmo aquabonita is one of Gods’ masterpieces. This is the ‘golden trout’, Californias’ true state fish not the Garibaldi. Golden trout are to be found in the Kern river and they are the “diamond” of freshwater fish……
I witnessed what I can only call a flying saucer in July of 82, the story is factual and my father who witnessed the craft can corroborate. It looked like a fiery shield, not unlike a diskus. It hovered over Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks California. It wobbled and descended to a point behind the mountain range. It was glowing orange than amber before it descended. It has left an indelible impression in my head for many years. I feel funny saying I am not sure about the reality of UFO, after having witnessed one myself. I have certainly ruled out the possibility of “swamp gas” or any other phenomenon that could have caused this fiery, orange diskus to appear and descend….
CCD,
Don’t know, I’m almost exclusively a high country trout kind of guy. Only thing more fun to catch on a fly rod then a cut-throat is a Kokanee (land locked sockeye), but give me wild trout any day of the week flavor wise.
How about Gene Hackman’s portrayal of the Christ figure in “The Poseidon Adventure?”
There’s got to be a morning after…
I am not saying that “flying saucer” is real. When interviewed, people who were college graduates were mostly likely to state that they believed in the possibility of extraterrestrial life and the probability of flying saucer, those who were not college graduates, were most likely to not believe in the possibility of extraterrestrial life and the improbability that we have been visited by other life forms, from other planets or solar systems. I am certainly open to the possibility of this reality and would not pooh-pooh it out of hand…
Bryon,
Nope and I do not eat UFOs either
(Un-Fried-Oysters)
I’ll see your Twilight Zone theme and raise you:
YETI Vs GRIZZLY BEAR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLgrTQ1f0vU
Gyges think you might need a Yeti when you’re out hooking bass?
The beer is going to have a strong head when the bears are done.
Now, that was creative. Gotta like that 3rd man out…
ffleo:
you dont believe in UFO’s? Chariot of the Gods, that type of thing?
Mike S.:
Atlantis is under the north or south pole. I have it on good authority from the little green man that puts things in my head.
FFLEO,
Thanks, but I prefer this: (music starts at about a min. in)