By: Emmanuel Gardrie Agbeko

Emmanuel Gardrie Agbeko — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 11:39:10 +0000

Afrocentricism is not an end to itself but a responds to eurocentrism. Discuss.

By: Sarah Keller

Sarah Keller — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:51:37 +0000

This is a thoughtful piece that makes some interesting connections. And Lofton is right. Palin does need to account for this accounting instead of hiding behind the fortress between her and the media. If McCain’s campaign were not in perpetual Palin media blackout mode, then perhaps the media would be able to pose questions to Palin about just these issues. Except for the thin interview with Charlie Gibson, no one has been allowed to question her on the record. I find that outrageous. As for her beliefs on creationism, whether she believes in creationism of not, she has gone on record that she favors creationism be taught in the public schools. The transcript reads: “Teach both! You know, don’t be afraid of education.” (This from someone who slashed public education funding and attended five schools in six years.) And since she was talking in the debate at the time about her father as a science teacher and about “science class,” that comment very unlikely meant having a debate about it in history class. Yes, well, why not teach “both?” Maybe because creationism has no scientific basis and is essentially disinformation? Maybe because teaching creationism is teaching religion (not teaching about religion but is actually teaching religion) and not teaching science? Maybe because the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster’s story of creation darn well better be taught in schools and receive equal time if Christian creationism is going to be taught as a plausible “alternative.” Even so, as Fordham Institute science education expert Lawrence Lerner has said, Palin’s nomination is less worrisome in terms of education than the broad relationship of science and government. “In the direct sense, vice presidents don’t have much to do with what goes on in classrooms. But a person who’s a creationist doesn’t understand science and technology at all,” said Lerner. “It doesn’t bode well for science, and doesn’t bode well for interaction between science and government.” I don’t want someone who thinks creationism should be taught “as science” in public school science classrooms making decisions (or being a heartbeat away from the position that makes the decisions) about global warming or air and water quality.

As for the Jeremiah Wright point, there is a difference here in that Obama rejected the Afrocentrism of Wright as antithetical to his own beliefs, whereas Palin has repeatedly only spoken glowingly about the famed African Christian witch hunter (Bishop) Thomas Muthee who anointed her for political success during her campaign for governor. Muthee and his band of witch hunters are known for driving little old ladies out of villages under accusations of witchcraft and for whipping up mobs into stoning frenzies. This is serious stuff. In late May of 2008, in one day alone ll people in one village were burned alive by Christian witch hunting groups. And Palin’s comments and relationship to Mutthee remain current. Her comments came only a few months ago. Obama was skewered for association with Wright but Palin has received a nearly free pass on this witch hunter issue. Once again, no one can ask her about it because she remains the fragile petal too delicate to be questioned by all those meany pants journalists. It’s hard to cry a river about SNL or others poking fun at Palin’s support of creationism when this is a woman who takes special glee in shooting exhausted wolves from helicopters. She prides herself on being a “predator.” You cannot have it both ways. You cannot be the “barracuda” and the fragile petal at the same time.

Comments on: How now, creationist?

By: Emmanuel Gardrie Agbeko

By: Sarah Keller