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It hasn’t been a good week here in TN. Charles Pierce, Hunter, PZ Meyers, and Suzie Madrak have all spilled virtual ink and probably actual tears about goings-on here. (Even I joined the chorus of Cassandra’s.)
But we’re still left with the stupid.
(And how could this state leave names 19 & 20 linked together for an eternity? They will fly!!))
Professor PZ Meyers has linked to this handy chart as a partial palliative for part of our predicament, and of course, if anyone might ever want to hold your hand, you know what to do. And if by chance the Legislature manages to get one wrong, at least you won’t be alone.
Because it gets worse.Vance is back.
And he’s got a friend. Who’s got a bill.
So we’ve got a petition.
And we’d like you to sign. And tell some friends.
Today on the steps of the State Capitol, about forty or so people showed up for a rally to protest the climate and creationist laws (the hand-holding and Bully 2:The Sequel haven’t had a chance to show up on the radar yet). The media was present, and there should be video later (hopefully without ads).
The speakers were Larisa DeSantis, Ryan Haupt, and Jen James, who have been working with MoveOn and 350.org. They managed to get some 3,200 signatures to deliver to Gov. Haslam, and the numbers have continued to grow, both inside and out of state, forcing him to go from “Monkey Bill” to “Weasel Will,” as the opening quote shows. He wouldn’t sign it.
Among those present were a half dozen or so members of Occupy Nashville. Unfortunately, they’ve been in a bit of a slump lately, although they hope to rally mightily for May Day. (Sounds like they could use a little Beautiful Trouble to spark up their love of life.) We care.
So does ON. They are in touch with Progresso Community Center and hope to help with ESL lessons, and stand in solidarity with immigrants and refugees.
Maybe “Monkey Law” wouldn’t be all that bad after all…..
After all, we’re all one big happy family.
Nashville artist Brandt Hardin created an original painting dealing with the “Monkey Law.” I don’t know art, but I know that I like. I wasn’t sure about the legality of using the image without his permission, so I’ll link to it here. Feel free to post here for Saturday (or anyday) Art, Brandt
26 Comments
You gotta petition, I gotta signature.
Have fun storming the castle, boys!
Rob Boston piles on more bad news.
TN could end up with a situation similar to that described by Charles Pierce in Idiot America, “God and Judge Jones.”
Boston:
This post is really hard to understand. I’m not up on what’s going on here and I’m not a fan of going to links to find out.
The bill says it embraces science. Let the real scientists embrace the bill and take them at their word by setting about to teach real science.
In 21st century America, if you have enough money and a dumb enough audience, you can buy your own facts.
The school district that gets sued probably won’t have the money to defend against a lawsuit. Maybe they’ll get free representation from a Religious Right legal group.
In Dover, Pennsylvania, free representation–provided by the Thomas More Law Center–proved awfully expensive. The school board lost the lawsuit and found itself on the hook for about $1 million in legal fees, most of which the plaintiff’s lawyers forgave.
The “best” part of all of this is Governor Haslam totally copping out by not signing the bill, but refusing to veto it at the same time. He wants to stand up to the far right of his party, but he won’t without a strong support tocover his backside.
Sorry about that. I was pretty livid when I wrote it, and was kind of worried about being over the top, and probably ended up going both ways. What really got me is the bully bill is back in play. As the petition states, “If passed, the Tennessee “license to bully” bill would allow students to justify bullying their gay peers by pointing to a political or religious conviction.” And this could open up bullying any kid who’s just not liked by someone.
The creationist bill legalizes quackery, it protects people who teach creationism. It’s going to make it hard for TN students to go out of state. See reply #2 for more consequences.
The odd thing is these people of faith have no faith in God, and feel they have to tell God what happened. Conservatism is known for embracing a mythical past (see Corey Robin’s book), here it is to the max.
Hope this helps.
Charles Pierce covered that eloquently in Idiot America, “God and Judge Jones.” Rob Boston just happened to have a paste-able quote handy.
And if a community does have to go to court, I wonder where the Legislature will be?
My God, people, this is Tennessee. The reddest of the red. We are so freaking engrossed in our own belly buttons it’s a miracle we don’t forget to breathe. Plus, we don’t have the advantage of coastline (I’m talkin’ at you Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Texas and even Mississippi) where rich folk come to enjoy the atmosphere and maybe, just maybe, rub some sense off on us locals.
We, the few left sane in Georgia empathize with the few sane in Tennessee. But all the outrage and expense isn’t going to accomplish that much as long as we have a White House and Congress that refuses to accept the truths of science and while cowering in Christian robes burning incense.
Genuflecting to their monied masters to get themselves inside the gate. That’s all they are doing. It ain’t about belief. It’s about believing in what can be got for themselves TODAY (and maybe their families tomorrow).
When I read comments from various TN Legislators, they’re just downright disturbing. I’ve been following them through my writing about Occupy Nashville, Vance Dennis and Stacey Campfield on the Bully Bill, Eric Watson’s “pee” remarks, Richard Floyd’s “stomp a mudhole,” to name a few, there’s no reasons for these laws, there’s no reasons for these remarks.
There’s ALEC aplenty here in TN, but this seems beyond pleasing big money.
I don’t think I’ve heard that He wants to stand up to the far right of his party, but he won’t without a strong support to cover his backside.
The Rob Boston article I link to in comment #2 states Haslam is a Republican governor of a red state with large GOP majorities in both Houses. Boston writes He should have used his influence to pull the plug on this bill long before it got this far along. That’s what strong leaders do. Boston and Americans United have been in contact with both the governor and legislators about this and a raft of other dubious legislation in Tennessee so they do have on the ground experience.
The weirdness with Occupy Nashville’s eviction a few weeks ago with the Lt. Gov. coming out of the blue and announcing a warning period of a week or so does seem to suggest a lack of control at the top(although in the long run that was probably a good maneuver).
I don’t have a 48″ wide monitor, so why the photos if I can’t read the signs?
“Give me that old time religion, it’s good enough for me!”
Ignorance, superstition, and religious bigotry are forever hungry and must be fed.
When politics and religion joins hand, no one is safe.
To show the rally. I’ve got a flip recorder, and it doesn’t do close-ups. Unfortunately, with 2 TV networks present, and The Tennessean newspaper, I had hoped this would have been broadcast; it was supposed to be on Saturday nights’ 9:00 news, but if it was, I can’t find it online.
Just this:
http://www.tennessean.com/videonetwork/1562448855001/Evolution-Law-Protests
So I screwed up by not filming the whole thing and trusting others (although local media here is usually pretty good at showing things like this), and just pulling a few snapshots from my clips. And I did exactly what we were advised NOT to do at our last liaison webinar, which was don’t trust others and film the whole thing)
Here’s a few signs:
“With Global Warming, I trust facts, not politicians or Your Pastor”
“In science class, I want to learn science”
“Teach the Non-troversy”
“Dear Law-makers, When was the last YOU were in a science class?”
This is a nice illustrated memoir or diary for those who were there or are intimately involved. For most of us you need to spell out the facts and issues more clearly and not depend on so many pics and links.
Thank you for the report and your follow-up comments. In spite of any citizen journalism learning curve, it’s great to have these on-the-ground reports from Occupy. Recommended.
Thanks for all the remarks and replies, and I hope I’ve addressed (and will address) everyone’s concerns and comments. As I mentioned in an earlier comment, I was really emotional about the bullying law making a return, and I was worried about going ballistic and saying things I’d regret, and ended up being vague and probably tried to be too clever.
I’ve been gobsmacked by these events. Some of this I’ve come to expect, but some I’ll never get used to.
Everyone’s been great, and I’m really enjoying this conversation. I may even learn something.
Thanks for your kind reply.
That is a really sick and twisted bill. How do these people look themselves in the mirror? Kind of makes me want to go “Bully” some of them.
I am an enthusiastic supporter of the Occupy movement and in particular the fact you all are willing to rethink everything and let passion inform you as well as history and the rest. Just remember many of us here are sitting around in our underwear working an old machine. LOL
You just keep doing. We just need to catch up.
They’ve been bred and trained to hate. I’ve lived in Nashville for over 5 years now, and it’s amazing to walk into a business and hear hate radio playing, or hear it from a car radio when people come to pick up their kids after school, or blasting as they drive through a parking lot.
And if I criticize FOX, people actually say, What, you listen to CNN? (I actually attended college a few years ago (I’m an old duffer that returned), and CNN was blocked for being “too liberal.”)
This one’s gotten me through so many bad times for so many years, I’ve been playing it on guitar this afternoon (and it was Lowell’s birthday yesterday):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrCMlSWlDX8&fmt=18
The only people who make out in these situations are the attorneys. While everyone else is busy pissing around at each other, they’ll be resting comfortably on the Rivera thankyouverymuch.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who wants to know what specifically the bill says.
I’m not opposed to teaching creationism in schools although in my opinion it ought to be taught in a philosophy setting since faith itself is the opposite of scientific reason (which requires testing a hypothesis.)
The official summary is here.
There’s not one shred of evidence to support creationism.
It’s religion. The Catholic Church is opposed to Intelligent Design, “God of the gaps” they called it, and is pro-science. So what happens when religions collide?
Something not discussed; what about home schooling and for-profit schools?
Sen. Lamar Alexander has his hand in that cookie jar.
And there’s the Dominionist college here in Franklin. To the best of my knowledge, Dominionists are creationists.
Just as the Koch Brothers are buying economic chairs at universities, they also fund right wing religious organizations, like the Acton Institute.
And to deal with the other aspect of the bill, our climate is changing, and not for the better. Guess who speculate in fossil fuel?
TN is very ALEC friendly.
It’s going to allow the quacks and intimidate the rest. I don’t see how it could be an open, honest discussion.