Ignorance On Parade

Bush is an Idiot

On Monday, President Bush advocated the teaching "intelligent design" as part of science cirriculum in American public schools. Bush is such an idiot that he doesn't understand the difference between scientific theory and religious philosphy. In his mind he sees this right wing driven educational battle not as science vs. pseudoscience, but as a conflict between two equally valid scientific theories.

"Both sides ought to be properly taught . . . so people can understand what the debate is about," he said, according to an official transcript of the session. Bush added: "Part of education is to expose people to different schools of thought. . . . You're asking me whether or not people ought to be exposed to different ideas, and the answer is yes."

It is almost unimaginable that the President of the United States would take a stand against knowledge and science and instead advocate the teaching of a religious philosphy that doesn't even represent mainstream Christian thought as an alternative scientific theory to evolution.

"Opponents of intelligent design, which a Kansas professor once called "creationism in a cheap tuxedo," say there is no legitimate debate. They see the case increasingly as a political battle that threatens to weaken science teaching in a nation whose students already are lagging."

[...] Bush's comments were "irresponsible," said Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. He said the president, by suggesting that students hear two viewpoints, "doesn't understand that one is a religious viewpoint and one is a scientific viewpoint." Lynn said Bush showed a "low level of understanding of science," adding that he worries that Bush's comments could be followed by a directive to the Justice Department to support legal efforts to change curricula."

If ignorance is truly bliss, then President Bush must be the happiest man in the world. When a nation's leader either expresses such woeful ignorance or panders to the ignorance of others in such a shameless manner it is not a good thing.

"It is, of course, further indication that a fundamentalist right has really taken over much of the Republican Party," said Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), a leading liberal lawmaker. Noting Bush's Ivy League education, Frank said, "People might cite George Bush as proof that you can be totally impervious to the effects of Harvard and Yale education."

Our President is an idiot.