On inroads by the right's "ID" and creationism: Open letter to AAAS president Omenn

Dear Prof. Omenn,

I just read an account on BBC.com of AAAS's new move to
get mainstream churches to take a strong stand against the
increasing onslaughts by so-called Intelligent Design and
creationism. This is important and commendable, but I
still get the sense that both mainstream scientists and
mainstream religious leaders, among others, have not
yet understood the deeper and more dangerous agenda
of what is usually called the 'Anti-evolution' movement.

The larger agenda involves the creation and socialization
of a ultra-conformist and obedient populace with little or
no technical understanding of old style production techno-
logies, let alone any actual independent appreciation or
support for science and the power of self-correcting rational
thought underlying those technologies.

You will recall that in the 1980s, the country first set out
to change itself over into a 'Service' based economy,
while rapidly dissolving its older industrial base (with all
of the techno-scientific underpinnings implied by that).
This coincided with the export of these same industries
to many third world nations having labor markets with
little political freedom.

In this context, it is extremely important to note that the
real agenda of the far right is to attack and erode the
teaching of all modern geology, cosmology and the whole
of our hard-won astrophysical understanding. This is of
course a kind of intellectual suicide, but makes perfect sense
when the far right's need to create an uncritical, easily mani-
pulated and easily divided populace is taken into account.

Ie: When you attempt to confront creationism or its newer
incarnations, you generally do so from a scientist's under-
standable belief that both sides are guided by clear, rational
and honest rules of thought, debate and inquiry.

Your well funded opponents are under no such delusion.

To paraphrase the Clarence Darrow character in the
film Inherit the Wind, portraying the Scopes Trial:
"...hatred and ignorance are forever busy and need
feeding!"