Equal Time

Steve Gilliard expressed surprise that this ran in the Salt Lake Tribune, although I vaguely recall that they've run similarly "surprising" articles in the past:

President Bush has thrown in with those who think that an idea called "intelligent design" should be taught alongside evolution in the nation's schools...

But why stop there?

While the science teacher is at it, he might make the study of astronomy more poetic by including the theory that the sun is not a frighteningly impersonal thermonuclear furnace but actually the flaming chariot of Phoebus Apollo streaking across the sky.

Or he might calm the students' fears of being adrift in a soulless universe by casting aside all this Copernican nonsense and admitting that, as any fool can see just by looking up, the Earth stands still and the sun, moon and stars revolve around us, er, it.

Perhaps Gilliard is surprised by the irony of it, given that Mormons are generally known for being more earnest than ironic (then again, maybe the bicycles and thin ties are their version of retro chic). Still, I noted in the past that "Creation Physics" (because, after all, relativity is 'just a theory') isn't exactly stirring up the same degree of snit in the nation's schoolboards (though, I think it was Jeffrey that pointed me to--no lie--a website promoting just that).

Anyway...in a certain sense, there might be some good to come out of Bush's pronouncement--given that most everything he touches turns to lead, maybe his endorsement could be the first toll of the death bell for an idea who's time belongs squarely in the dark ages...