Oklahoma legislature to vote on resolution banning Richard Dawkins from OU

[cynatnite]

State Rep. Todd Thomsen has filed a resolution to keep Richard Dawkins out of Oklahoma. Well, not the whole state. Presumably they would not try to arrest the good professor if he wandered across, say, the Arkansas border. But he does want to keep Dawkins off the grounds of the big university there. From House Resolution 1015 (RTF file):

. . . 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.

Well, since most Americans don't accept the fact of evolution, it surprises me not one iota that the majority of Oklahomans do not either. But what on Earth could be Thomsen's reasoning here? What is the basis upon which he objects to hearing from someone who thinks differently than he? Perhaps there is a clue in the language of the resolution:

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 . . .

...um...

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 . . .

*Head scratch*

. . . 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.

So in the name of tolerance, free inquiry, and open debate we want to...prevent...free...inquiry...and...open...debate. Got it.

According to the resolution, Dawkins demonstrates "intolerance for cultural diversity and diversity of thinking," so the solution for Rep. Thomsen is to rub out an example of diversity of thought. Nothing could be more representative of diversity of thought in Oklahoma than atheism!

http://www.examiner.com/x-4275-DC-Secularism-Examiner~y2009m3d6-Oklahoma-legislator-to-Richard-Dawkins-We-dont-like-your-kind-round-these-parts

[Kazak]

1. Yep, that's about the gist of it...

BTW, I started this thread about it earlier: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5196532&mesg_id=5196532

I'm planning to attend the lecture later tonight. Let's hope this doesn't in any way interfere. :eyes:

[cynatnite]

2. My apologies. I should have searched before posting...

Please let us know how the lecture goes. I really like Dawkins and am curious if he'll say anything about this.

[immoderate]

4. You gave details the other post didn't have...

if that's the one I saw.

imm

[Kazak]

5. Everyone survived it, relatively unscathed!!! :)

We had a great time! There was only one slight outburst of unruly theism, and a pitiful showing at that. We had to sit pretty far back and couldn't hear all that well, but still it was good to hear the good doctor speak, and I'll be forever grateful to him for daring to venture into the bible belt to propagate his fine ideas. I picked up 4 of his books at bargain prices!!

[immoderate]

3. Great Orwell's Ghost!

How crazy can you get? :crazy:

--imm

[RoyGBiv]

6. This is a current trend ...

... and it is not just restricted to Oklahoma or Dawkins.

As I posted in a thread a few days ago the Georgia legislature, citing "public funding," is trying to stop not just speakers at Georgia State from speaking on topics regarding sexuality but are also attempting to have the study of gender, sexuality ... basically the entire sociology department if we get right down to it ... completely removed from the curriculum. This is the current obsession of one state legislator and her pastor who got all up in arms, apparently, when they saw the phrase "queer theory" and seemingly thought it meant indoctrination in being homosexual.

They want the professors all fired, any money that was given as stipends to speakers on the subject(s) returned, and any books dealing with the subject banned from the campus.

They have no authority to do this, just as the Oklahoma legislature has no real authority to ban any one person from any state campus, but they are using the public funding aspect to threaten a withholding of funding for the university as a whole.

[dysfunctional press]

7. someone should ask todd if he knows the 1st amendment in the bill of rights...

the FIRST FUCKING ONE!

[caty]

8. So Rush and O'Reilly

are allowed freedom of speech, but Richard Dawkins, a professor, is not. :wtf: