Separation of Church and State? In Louisiana They Can’t Even Separate Fact From Fiction

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Above the Law is a great blog. I drop in from time to time.

(I wish I could figure out why the link procedure doesn't always work for me.)

http://abovethelaw.com/2012/08/separation-of-church-and-state-in-louisiana-they-cant-even-separate-fact-from-fiction/
Separation of Church and State? In Louisiana They Can’t Even Separate Fact From Fiction

By Elie Mystal

It’s time to do a little Louisiana educational potpourri. There are simply too many acts of stupidity being done by people who run religious and charter schools in the state, and one of them is so stupid that it’s probably illegal.

I’m not throwing the word “stupid” around casually. I’m talking about some real, honest to God, poor decisions and worthless statements coming out of the state.

By now I’m sure you’ve heard about the “prophet” who runs a charter school and the biology textbook that teaches the Loch Ness monster is real. But did you know about the character school conducting a witch hunt for and expelling girls “suspected” of being pregnant? Yeah, that last one caught the eye of the ACLU….

Follow the link to this:

Loch Ness Monster real in biology textbook

By Valerie Strauss

This would be funny if it weren’t so, well, not funny.

A biology textbook used by a Christian school in Louisiana that will be accepting students with publicly funded vouchers in the fall says that the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland is real. And it isn’t just any monster but a dinosaur — an effort to debunk evolution and bolster creationist theory.

The story, reported in the Scotsman newspaper in Scotland, says that Eternity Christian Academy in Westlake is one of the many Christian schools in the United States that uses these books published by Accelerated Christian Education.
....

This is where support of vouchers is leading us — to the public paying for a child to learn that the Loch Ness Monster was a dinosaur and co-existed with humans. This is important to Young Earth Creationists, who believe that Earth was created no longer than 10,000 years ago, not the 4.5 billion years estimated by science. They also believe that dinosaurs were on Noah’s Ark.

[DionDem]

1. But the Loch Ness Monster IS real!

I'm convinced Nessie exists, and I applaud these brave Christian text book publishers for finally revealing the truth!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. Welcome to DU, but

as a new member, you probably don't know about the "sarcasm" disclaimer.

Don't worry; someone will let you know.

Welcome again.

[DionDem]

3. Thanks

People sick of sarcasm or just want it clearly identified?

[longship]

4. No but look up Nathan Poe.

He's the one who came up with Poe's Law:

"Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humor, it is impossible to create a parody of fundamentalism that someone won't mistake for the real thing."

Here's a link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe's_law

It's always safer to include the sarcasm smilie here at DU.

[DionDem]

5. Kind of kills the fun, though, no?

Without a little doubt in the reader's mind (or even just the willing suspension of disbelief) about whether the writer is sincere or not, the irony isn't so funny.

if I don't label my parody as parody, will I get in trouble around here with the locals?

i don't mind if an extremist misunderstands me, as long as the "normal" people get a laugh.

[longship]

6. You might get alerted as a troll

Which you will not like if you get banned from posting.

Just friendly advise.

[Scuba]

7. Turns out some people lack the sarcasm gene and take everything literally....

ergo, I always add the "sarcasm thingy here" caveat if in doubt. Oh, welcome to DU!!!