academic freedom, my a**

It was only a matter of time for the Creationists. Ever since their attempt to cloak creationism in the pseudo-scientific garb of 'Intelligent Design' failed a few years ago, they have been looking for new ways to foist unscientific, supernatural views concerning the origins of life onto children in school. Now, they are claiming rights under the First Amendment. A new documentary, The Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, has recently claimed that educators and scientists are being 'persecuted' for their belief that there is evidence of design in nature. Richard Dawkins and others have protested the shoddy and deceptive way the film was made, but it seems to indicate renewed life for the admittedly nonscientific movement. Worse still, some lawmakers have gotten hold of the idea. According to the Tampa Tribune, a Florida Senate comittee recently voted 4-1 to approve a bill that would 'protect the rights of students and teachers who don't agree with the science behind Darwinian evolution.' In a supreme twist of irony, it's called an "academic freedom" act. Hopefully the Florida Senate judiciary committee, the next to see the bill, will see through this attempt to inject religion into the classrooms. Let's pray hard the Alabama legislature doesn't try such shenanigans.