some religiously insane news out of Tulsa (and C Street)

[ensho]

http://blog.buzzflash.com/analysis/880


Fundamentalist Christian Candidate for Tulsa Mayor Makes Creationism Exhibit at Local Zoo Priority # 1


Anyone who's done their time in journalism school delights in a good lead paragraph, and I'm no exception. In that spirit (and because I simply couldn't say it better myself), I present this gem from Brian Barber, a staff writer at Tulsa World:

***
Republican mayoral candidate Anna Falling said Tuesday that putting a Christian creationism display in the Tulsa Zoo is No. 1 in importance among city issues that include violent crime, budget woes and bumpy streets.
***

You read that right. The top of this woman's political platform is one piece of religious indoctrination at a local zoo. Falling insists that this number one priority of hers is necessary so that "streets are safer, budgets are balanced, land use and infrastructure are determined wisely for all of Tulsa so that we all have a shot at the 'pursuit of happiness.'"

-snip-

Now, in a state with one senator who advocates the death penalty for law-abiding doctors who happen to provide abortions and another who calls climate change the "greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people," Falling's assertions may not be terribly shocking.

While Tulsa doesn't appear to be a city in crisis per se, it does lag behind the rest of Oklahoma in terms of high school and college graduates, while at the same time exceeding the state in number of residents below the poverty level, according to the U.S. Census. Surely there is a better use of a Tulsan's time than worrying about the absence of alternatives to evolutionary science. Like, say, the fact that the 2009 murder rate has already doubled last year's.

-snip-

The idea is currently being promoted by Christian fundamentalist Loren Cunningham, leader of Youth With a Mission, the group that owns the infamous C-Street House. Their vision, as explained by religious extremism researcher Bruce Wilson at Talk To Action, is one in "which Christian fundamentalists could achieve world domination by taking over key sectors of society such as business, government, media, and education."

The group recently made such aims public in this slick but creepy video:
-snip of video and further paragraphs-
--------------------------

are Okla. schools the worst?
is Okla. still in the US?

[rd_kent]

1. I love the smell of igonorance in the morning.

Just another example showing that xtianity is as bad as any other religion. When is America going to wake up and realize we have our very own Taliban right here at home.

[plcdude]

2. we indeed

have our challenges and it is quite frustrating to live in this reddest state of all but there is always hope that we will progress to more enlightened viewpoints. There are quite a few of us here that continue to work on this. Now someone from Florida badmouthing us in Oklahoma may just be the kettle calling... Just kidding.

[ensho]

6. true Fl. is a black kettle - luckily I'm 140 miles out in the ocean

on an island that's mostly civilized.

[plcdude]

8. I am

jealous. You don't have to tell me where but do you like the Keys?

[ensho]

9. absolutely!

a flower in bloom can be found every day of the year.

[MineralMan]

3. Moronic. Such a thing would be squashed instantly.

I'm just going to ignore this. She'll lose the election.

[plcdude]

4. Yes

she probably will but never underestimate the power of ignorance in this State.

[MineralMan]

5. Then it's up to you folks there to stop her, I guess.

I've got my hands full here in Minnesota, what with Dim Polenta and Michele Bachmann. Morons all. You Oklahomans are going to have to squash your own morons.

Directions to the Twin Cities from anywhere: Drive to Oklahoma City and turn left there if you're coming from the West, or right if coming from the East.

[plcdude]

7. We will

do our best. I 35 maybe some day they will actually have all the construction done. I know I am dreamer.

[MineralMan]

10. The construction never ends. It just moves.

[undeterred]

11. People get the government they deserve.

Its too bad they can't form a country of their own.

[Strong Atheist]

12. "is Okla. still in the US?" Considering that 44% of the people in the U.S.

believe that the human race was created 6000 - 10000 years ago, I would have to say, unfortunately, yes.

Whereas 44% of US adults agreed with the statement "God created human beings pretty much in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years."<26>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Earth_creationism