Re: "Primary Literature"

Jim.Foley@symbios.com
Tue, 23 Apr 96 12:00:07 MDT

>>>>> On Tue, 23 Apr 1996 08:21:54 -0500, Chuck Warman
>>>>> <cwarman@sol.wf.net> said:

>> I wrote:

>> <<<A minor point: the ACLU's stated goal is to *prevent* the teaching of a
>> theory with which it disagrees.>>>

>> Burgy asked for a cite, and I responded with a quote from the LA Times:

>> "In the wake of the [Vista School Board] vote, American Civil Liberties
>> Union representatives stated that they are considering a lawsuit and will
>> sue immediately should any Vista teacher begin teaching biblical
>> creationism in the classroom."

>> Burgy responded:

>> <<<Thanks, Chuck. I can't get from that, however, to your original
>> statement!>>>

>> Hi, Burgy.

>> Why not?

Because your quote only supports the part of your claim which says that
the ACLU is trying to prevent teaching of creationism (true). You
provided no support for the implication that it is trying to prevent it
*because it disagrees with it* (false).

In fact, we have other evidence that whether it disagrees is not
important to the ACLU; namely their defense of the free-speech rights of
racists. In addition, the ACLU does not act against teaching of private
schools teaching creationism. Since they oppose teaching creationism
*only in public schools*, it seems obvious that their motivation is not
to censor a particular point of view, but to prevent use of public funds
to support a religious doctrine.

(You may disagree that creationism is a religious doctrine. That's
irrelevant. The ACLU clearly does, and its motivation is based on its
belief, not yours)

-- Jim Foley                         Symbios Logic, Fort Collins, COJim.Foley@symbios.com                        (970) 223-5100 x9765  I've got a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call  it a weasel.      -- Edmund Blackadder