This is not really a diary and the link is ‘stolen’ from LaFeminista’s entry, currently on top of the recommended list on Daily Kos. But for the benefit of those that do not venture in that direction I am posting the below:
Charles Darwin film ‘too controversial for religious America’
A British film about Charles Darwin has failed to find a US distributor because his theory of evolution is too controversial for American audiences, according to its producer.
[…]
However, US distributors have resolutely passed on a film which will prove hugely divisive in a country where, according to a Gallup poll conducted in February, only 39 per cent of Americans believe in the theory of evolution.Movieguide.org, an influential site which reviews films from a Christian perspective, described Darwin as the father of eugenics and denounced him as “a racist, a bigot and an 1800s naturalist whose legacy is mass murder”. His “half-baked theory” directly influenced Adolf Hitler and led to “atrocities, crimes against humanity, cloning and genetic engineering”, the site stated.
The film has sparked fierce debate on US Christian websites, with a typical comment dismissing evolution as “a silly theory with a serious lack of evidence to support it despite over a century of trying”.
[…]
Mr Thomas, whose previous films include The Last Emperor and Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, said he hoped the reviews would help to secure a distributor. In the UK, special screenings have been set up for Christian groups.
What a sad testament to the success of the misinformation campaigns brought by the fundamentalists, affecting so many aspects of our daily lives.
can’t say l’m surprised. but as soon as it’s avail on dvd, l’m certain the independent video shops will have it.
it’s indeed a sad testament as well to the quality, or lack thereof, of “education” in this country. specifically, the instilling of the ability for “critical thinking”. and it encompasses all levels.
l know some reasonably well educated people…some with advanced college degrees… who are so enraptured by their particular theological dogma that they have completely lost their ability to reason when certain “faiths” are questioned…nor can they be reasoned with.
l gave up trying years ago.
religiosity, in all it’s manifestations, is not an acceptable subject that can, or will be, discussed with them. thankfully, that always makes our encounters mercifully brief.
What stuck out the most to me was ‘…only 39 per cent of Americans believe in the theory of evolution.‘
Considerably less than half the population…
Here’s what a fairly recent Gallup-poll found:
And:
Majority of Republicans Doubt Theory of Evolution
interesting. confirms my anecdotal observations very well.
The problem isn’t with the 1/4 who don’t believe in it, because they’re fundamentalists. It’s with the 36% who don’t have an opinion either way. They don’t care enough to answer the question seriously.
This is a critical time for the US of A. We are in a boat race into the 21st century against all the nations of the world. In order for the US to come out a winner, we need all oars in the water pulling together in the same direction. If we have even one or two rowers out of sync with the rest of the crew, or rowing in the wrong direction WE CANNOT WIN! The winner naturally becomes the leader of the upcoming new world global society for the major portion of the 21st century with all of the human benefit, innovation, and wealth that that position commands.
Currently,there are many Americans who are totally unaware that they are now living in the 21st century, and in their ignorance lack any awareness that their 20th century bigotry and prejudices will become even greater impediments in the coming years ahead. The global society currently being constructed by mankind is being built on new perceptions of mankind, which is providing a clearer understanding of our place in the continuing evolution of Creation. Unfortunately those still clinging to the hatred and class divisions of the 20th century are blind to understanding that Darwin’s perceptions of evolution are just a paradigm of human evolution in Creation.
Regardless of the personal bias of the so called conservatives among us , if we all don’t all pull in the same direction on our respective oars during these immediate and critical hours, the “City on a Hill” that we all fondly envision will not be an American achievement in the 21st century.
I suspect future historians will write about the toxins that caused the wide-spread dementia that led to the collapse of the American Empire. Yes, the failure of our education system can be pointed out and the dominance of a media that promotes lies. But somewhere under that, there’s just a whole lot of stupidness and insanity going around.
The level of stupidity here in the US never ceases to amaze me. It hits rock bottom, but the digging continues.
This would actually be funny if it wasn’t so sad. Wingnuttery has been raised to a twisted form of high art in this society.
Well hate to “stick up” for the fundies here LOL but they’re half right – Francis Galton (Darwin’s cousin) WAS the father of eugenics and DID use Darwin’s theory to “prove” this.
Of course complaining about Darwin inspiring Hitler is a bit of a trope because they fail to blame Walter Ivey and Edward Bernays for inspiring Mein Kampf LOL.
But hey, since we’re placing blame, let’s also blame Hegel, Kant and William James for Hitler as well since clearly their pragmatism was inspirational to the National Socialist movement đŸ™‚
Of course in the same vein preachers used to use the Bible to “prove” slavery was a good and necessary thing so should we hold James Dobson accountable for Darfur? LOL logicfail
Pax