Batshit crazy wingnut to speak at FAU

by: Sinfonian

Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 17:43:13 PM EDT

More below the fold ...

Weldon's Trent Lott Moment

by: Florida Politics

Fri May 25, 2007 at 10:15:47 AM EDT

Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Indialantic has had his Trent Lott moment uttering these words about the late Rev. Jerry Falwell:

"He was sincerely motivated by his strong faith in God and a deep love for our country," Weldon said in a statement. "Rev. Falwell effectively shaped some of the most consequential moral issues of our day. For that, we are a better nation."

"Fissures in the Evangelical Movement"

by: Eyeball

Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 18:55:22 PM EDT

"My Name is Rachel Corrie"

by: rsimon

Fri Mar 23, 2007 at 12:59:55 PM EDT

Dear Friends of Mosaic Theatre,

As many of you know, I am not a fan of authoring Director's Notes in our playbills as I often find them quite pretentious. I have always believed that the smarter choice was to show an audience what a play is about, not to preach to them. Allowing an audience to feel what they want to feel and see what they want to see is the fundamental principle of what art is about. My goal has always been to present creative raw material to spark human passion and interest.

Since my announcement of our April/May production of My Name is Rachel Corrie , I have received dozens of phone calls and e-mail correspondence chronicling reasons why I should not do this play. My personal favorite transpired a few weeks back when an actress auditioned for the role; she said what a brilliant play Rachel Corrie is, what a great choice, what an important play, then gasped, "But you're Jewish!"

There's a first time for everything I suppose, so allow this to be my first documented Director's Notes pertaining to an artistic choice.

Over my professional career, I have learned that there are two things that directly challenge our core belief system and have the potential to stir our very souls: Politics and Religion. This was evident with our recent production of The Pull of Negative Gravity which was an intense study in suffering related to the War in Iraq. Some cried foul that presenting art with this subject matter in a time when our country is at war is a betrayal. My intention of honoring the dead by posting the numbers of the American soldiers on a board as audience members left was also met with dissention; several patrons actually told that was immoral. Politics and Religion - people are going to feel what they want to feel and see what they want to see.

I believe our South Florida community has had a long history of open dialogue on complex and controversial issues. I encourage each of you to open yourselves up to one small voice that suggests that there are many victims on both sides of the Israeli-Palestine conflict.

My Name is Rachel Corrie tells the story of a young woman whose idealism and passion drove her to stand for peace in a region long riddled with conflict. The script was masterly assembled from her actual journals and email correspondence - and is a collection of writing representing her feelings about home and her perceptions in Gaza as she experienced them. These writings capture the eloquence, contradictions, and exuberant, creative spirit of a remarkable woman who believed more than anything - that she could make a difference in this world.

I find it extremely interesting that many dissenting viewpoints have come from individuals who have never read the play. So, why did I choose to do it?

1) Presenting My Name is Rachel Corrie is a form of free expression that we should embrace and protect. This is the fundamental principle that defines us as Americans.

2) As professional artists, there's an unwritten oath we take - that our responsibility is to "educate" as well as to "delight." And it is very important to inform about the conflict - from all sides - because innocent lives are being lost on both sides of the conflict - for far too long.

3) I greatly admire Rachel's strong belief in advocacy, her desire to change the world and how she fought to promote peace and make the world a better place.

4) This is storytelling at its finest and we are proud to be presenting the Southeast Regional Premiere of this incredibly important play.

During the run of My Name is Rachel Corrie , there will be many opportunities for audiences to engage in conversation about the thoughts, experiences and ideas Rachel shared in her writing. I encourage you to join us for these events. I also encourage you to leave comments and/or feedback on this blog. As important as it is for us to express Rachel's story from her viewpoint, I created this blog as a forum to recognize the importance of your freedom of expression…without censorship.

Thank you for your support of Mosaic Theatre.

Richard Jay Simon

"My Name is Rachel Corrie" is playing 4/18/07-5/13/07. Visit www.mosaictheatre.com for more info.

Hillsborough County Hires Anti-Adult Entertainment Crusader Scott Bergthold

by: Michael Hussey

Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 19:18:12 PM EST

Bergthold has a long history in the Christian Right. He graduated from Pensacola Christian College in 1994. He received his law degree from the Christian university Regent Law School. At law school, Bergthold became involved with the Pat Robertson-funded American Center for Law and Justice.

Bergthold has ties with the organizations Community Defense Counsel and Victims of Pornography. The site has a poem Amber Smith wrote for those who have been victimized form one too many Ron Jeremy movies.

Continued at Pushing Rope.

Dominos Founder Builds Wingnut Town in Florida

by: sohei

Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 09:11:34 AM EST

Via AMERICAblog I see that the crazy-ass founder of Domino's pizza  is founding an American Taliban town right here in Florida:

If Domino's Pizza founder Thomas S. Monaghan has his way, a new town being built in Florida will be governed according to strict Roman Catholic principles, with no place to get an abortion, pornography or birth control.

The pizza magnate is bankrolling the project with at least $250 million and calls it "God's will."

Wingnut Update - Fred Phelps’ and His Family of Hate Comes to Tampa

by: Sonnyb

Wed Jan 18, 2006 at 18:21:58 PM EST

My Kid Goes To Catholic School: Jeb Is Wrong

by: Florida Politics

Sat Dec 31, 2005 at 08:29:53 AM EST

Bush tried Friday to strike a delicate balance in the burgeoning controversy over whether intelligent design should be taught in science classes, reaffirming his Catholic faith while insisting that his personal beliefs should not dictate the state's public-school standards.

But Bush also called for a "vigorous discussion of varying viewpoints in our classrooms" -- a rallying cry frequently used by supporters of intelligent design.

"A healthy debate of issues challenges our students' minds," Bush said in a statement issued by his office Friday morning.

In the five-paragraph statement, the Republican governor also said: "I am a practicing Catholic, and my own personal belief is God created man and all life on earth. However, I do not believe an individual's personal beliefs should be the basis for determining Florida's Sunshine State Standards."

I say the Governor is misrepresenting Catholic educational practices based on my personal experience.  I send my kid to Catholic School; last year they were taught that evolution and religion were consistent (not competing theories).  My kid was taught Darwin's theory of evolution in Catholic school.  And, they are not taught that evolution is just "one of the theories", but rather THE theory.

"Intelligent Design" was not part of the curriculum.

One would hope that Catholics and particularly the Catholic school hierarchy would make plain that Bush is flat out wrong in saying that "personal beliefs" of a Catholic require adherence to the so-called "Intelligent Design" view. 

Along these same lines, one would hope (but not expect) reporters to question Catholic leaders about whether they teach evolution exclusively (or as a competing "theory" as Bush suggests) and whether belief in ID rather than evolution is part of mainstream Catholic dogma.

Pinellas County Wants Intelligent Design

by: USAHeartland

Fri Dec 30, 2005 at 13:59:49 PM EST

This shows that intelligent design is gaining the support of the American people, not only in Pinellas County, but across the United States.
There is much debate going on within the Pinellas County school system over this issue.

Time will tell if this will be implemented in the school curriculum.

I know the freaks will come out and say "It's only theory." But, what is forgotten is that evolution began as a theory. Let's not forget the lieberals and proggies that will come out and put down the Christian people who believe in a Higher Power (i.e., God). For people who are supposedly so open-minded, the lieberals and proggies sure are scared of intelligent design.

http://sptimes.com/2005/12/30/Tampabay/Poll__Evolution_s_not.shtml

ID in 2006?

by: Florida Politics

Tue Dec 27, 2005 at 09:00:43 AM EST

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board is glad it isn't:  "Fortunately, the fight won't come so quickly to Florida, which has delayed review of its public-school science standards at least a year -- long past what is sure to be a heated 2006 governor's race."  "Stick to science".

Perhaps they're right?  Maybe Dems need to avoid this issue at all costs.  After all, "[p]olls do show strong support nationwide for teaching a biblical version of the origins of life. A CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll taken nationwide in September showed that 53 percent of Americans believe humans were created 'exactly as the Bible describes.'"  "Intelligent design evolving into hot issue".

ID On Its Way

by: Florida Politics

Thu Dec 22, 2005 at 06:08:55 AM EST

Florida has avoided the controversy about teaching evolution in schools in part by excluding the word evolution from its school science standards, though still requiring students to learn evolution-related concepts.

The standards, adopted in 1996, refer to "biological change over time" and make no reference to intelligent design or creationism. But some have said the state could be ripe for a battle about intelligent design when it next revises its science standards.

Already this fall, Broward County schools faced some controversy when they worked to select a biology textbook from a list of state-approved books. One of the books included a brief mention of intelligent design, which the publisher later said could be removed, if Broward selected that book. Broward teachers will make a final book selection next year.

Florida was to adopt new statewide science standards next year, but state officials now think they will not finish work on new math standards until next year, so they will not take up science until 2007 or 2008.

Officials want to revise only one set of academic standards a year, said Jennifer Fennell, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Education. If math revisions are completed in 2006, the state will tackle science or social studies in 2007 and then the other subject in 2008.

Education Commissioner John Winn would not comment on the Dover ruling Tuesday. Fennell said Winn stands by the written statement he released in October.

In that statement, Winn said Florida's current standards were "written in a way that is neither inclusive nor exclusive to any one theory of human origin" and "encourage students to seek information for themselves by researching and exploring a variety of theories."