Dominionist Watch

Part One: No, Seriously—What the Hell is the Matter with Kansas?

Kansas has been fighting for years to ensure its students have the worst possible science education, starting with a 1999 moratorium on references to evolution (which was later repealed after the state became a laughingstock), but the anti-science advocates who long for a dumber future might just get their way yet:

The Kansas Board of Education voted 6-4 Tuesday to include greater criticism of evolution in its school science standards, but it decided to send the standards to an outside academic for review before taking a final vote.

[…]

The standards are used in developing state tests for fourth, seventh and 10th-graders, though local schools have the final say on what is taught in their classrooms. Students will be tested on the new standards in the 2007-08 school year.

The board is expected to vote on final approval of the standards in October.

By the way, “greater criticism of evolution” means “treating intelligent design as equally valid.” I think I’m going to start a movement to get the Maori creation myth into science classes, too. Not only do I believe it has as much right to be presented in science classes as does intelligent design, but it will also at least present some intellectual stimulation as children are forced to learn to spell Ranginui and Papatuanuku.


Part Two: Nipple-Free TV…At Last!

Obviously, we’ve all been quite concerned about the coarsening of television entertainment ever since that dirty whore Janet Jackson revealed her nipple during a SuperBowl halftime show, which otherwise simply would have included wholesome bumping and grinding, half-naked dancers, and sexually suggestive lyrics. And TV is something with which we should all be very concerned, because without it, I’m not sure how else a steady stream of government propaganda, xenophobic nationalism, unhealthy body images, racial and gender stereotypes, and a continual barrage of encouragement to purchase shit we don’t need could be as efficiently delivered, all under the guise of entertaining us. That’s not an easy formula to replicate, so we’d better make sure TV stays booby-free. Luckily, the FCC is on the case:

The Federal Communications Commission has hired as an advisor an anti-pornography activist and former lobbyist for groups that push for Christian precepts in public policy. The move may herald a reinvigorated campaign against broadcast indecency and bring renewed pressure on cable to reconsider its racy offerings.

Penny Nance, until recently a board member of Concerned Women for America, is working as a special advisor in the FCC’s Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis, said aides to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin.

The strategic planning office helps develop agency policy. Concerned Women for America describes its mission as “helping…to bring Biblical principles into all levels of public policy.” In recent weeks Nance, a longtime supporter, stepped down from the organization’s board, said an official with the Washington, D.C.-based group.

[…]

In filings to Congress last month, Nance said she had terminated her work as a lobbyist for Kids First and for the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Center for Reclaiming America, a group that says it works to “implement the Biblical principles on which our country was founded.”

Read the rest of the article, if you’re in the mood to be totally annoyed. Otherwise, just use the following handy little summary to understand Nance’s position:

boobies = bad
(If there’s one thing that the Concerned Women for America are always concerned with, it’s making sure that women are ashamed of their bodies.)

Thanks, Penny Nance, for taking on the responsibility of this enormously necessary task. What could be more evident than the need to Christ-up telly? And maybe someday, there will be more than one channel, too, so all the good Christians across America aren’t forced to watch Desperate Housewives against their will.