Republican Todd Thomsen, a member of the House Education Committee and the chair of the House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee has intorduced a bill to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The text of House Resolution 1015 follows:
AS INTRODUCED
A Resolution opposing the invitation to Richard Dawkins to speak on campus; encouraging the University of Oklahoma to engage in a certain discussion of certain scientific theories; and directing distribution.
WHEREAS, the University of Oklahoma is a publicly funded institution which should be open to all ideas and should train students in all disciplines of study and research and to use independent thinking and free inquiry; and
WHEREAS, the University of Oklahoma has planned a year-long celebration of the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of Darwin's theory of evolution, called the "Darwin 2009 Project", which includes a series of lectures, public speakers, and a course on the history of evolution; and
WHEREAS, the University of Oklahoma, as a part of the Darwin 2009 Project, has invited as a public speaker on campus, Richard Dawkins of Oxford University, whose published opinions, as represented in his 2006 book "The God Delusion", and public statements on the theory of evolution demonstrate an intolerance for cultural diversity and diversity of thinking and are views that are not shared and are not representative of the thinking of a majority of the citizens of Oklahoma; and
WHEREAS, the invitation for Richard Dawkins to speak on the campus of the University of Oklahoma on Friday, March 6, 2009, will only serve to present a biased philosophy on the theory of evolution to the exclusion of all other divergent considerations rather than teaching a scientific concept.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 52ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
THAT the Oklahoma House of Representative strongly opposes the invitation to speak on the campus of the University of Oklahoma to Richard Dawkins of Oxford University, whose published statements on the theory of evolution and opinion about those who do not believe in the theory are contrary and offensive to the views and opinions of most citizens of Oklahoma.
THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives encourages the University of Oklahoma to engage in an open, dignified, and fair discussion of the Darwinian theory of evolution and all other scientific theories which is the approach that a public institution should be engaged in and which represents the desire and interest of the citizens of Oklahoma.
THAT a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the University of Oklahoma, the Dean of the College of Arts and Science at the University of Oklahoma, and the Chair of the Department of Zoology at the University of Oklahoma.
For more see: 'Anti-evolution' or anti-Dawkins Oklahoma House Resolution 1014 introduced
Comments
It's strange how some people like wallow in ignorance. Like a hippo in a mudpool, like a collie in a fresh cow manure, so to is an inbred middle american redneck to wilful stupidity.
This a great show of ignorance in Oklahoma. It's amazing how far people will go to stop reality from reaching their doorstep. So, the university invited Richard Dawkins, obviously for his wealth of knowledge on the subject of evolutionary biology and now, the "flat earth society" or, rather, the "state government" is offended? Where is the offense here? The college students and faculty that invited Mr. Dawkins should be offended for not being able to think for themselves. The people of Oklahaoma are offended? You mean the people that don't attend the University? If they are not present when Mr Dawkins is at the college how can they be offended. This is truly bronze age mentality in a first world country how embarrassing.
I have to wonder which, Representative Todd Thomsene (R) of Oklahoma, finds the greater ‘offense,’ Freedom of Speech, or that reality is not a popularity contest?
Even the dog covering itself in manure is an example of evolution. Dogs who possessed the instinct to cover their scent were more successful when hunting than those that didn't. Seems to be a blatant violation of the separation of church and state to legislate mandatory discussion of a certain unspoken (cough christian cough) religion that is NOT based in scientific theory at all. Despite attempts, the supreme court found that "intelligent design" is in fact a teaching based in a religion, not science.
I'm Gobsmacked. Have you noted how this resolution does what it is stating it is against? "... an intolerance for cultural diversity and diversity of thinking...". I despair for the people of the US when governed by people such as Todd Thomsen.
Sad. Just....very......sad.
The GOP is totally filled with ignorant asses like Republican dipstick Todd Thomsen.
...wow, I sure hope the budget in OK isn't late because this guy was drawing up this resolution. So if he wanted to handle snakes and speak in tongues... no disagreement? Come on Oklahoma... look at your calendar... shhhhh... it's 2009. Next they'll have a resolution against gravity, for a lack of diversity in opinion.
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