Today's Cultural Warfare Update

Two of the researchers whose research James Dobson misrepresented in Time magazine take him to task for lying about their work; one specifically requests that James Dobson never quote her again and requests an apology; I'm unaware of any response from James Dobson or any of his organisations;

Not only is the Park Service still being required by the Bush administration to carry a Creationist book saying that the Canyon is only 6,000 years old, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility is reporting that park employees have been told not to say how old the Canyon actually is, that the official response is now "no comment";

US safe from terror attacks; Pat Robertson predicts "mass killing" in late 2007. Given his track record, I think we can safely say we don't have much to worry about;

From Andrew Sullivan; the Times of London reports on Anglican priests getting civil unions; African denominations are pissed, by which I mean angry, again;

Massachusetts legislature votes overwhelmingly against an anti-marriage amendment (134-62), but the amendment only needed 25% of votes to move to the next stage, which is a revote next year. If it wins next year, it's on to the state ballot; fundamentalists are jubilant, of course; note that the "No" percentage (68%) was better than a 2/3rds majority, but in the next article, you'll see how Focus on the Family proclaims that "the people's will triumphed";

Focus on the Family news story and ACTION ITEM against marriage rights in Massachusetts;

FotF ACTION ITEM against stem-cell research legislation;

Focus on the Family continues to build the Terrie Schievo mythos; it is important to note that an autopsy showed that most of her brain had been replaced by spinal fluid (by natural processes);

FotF: Oklahoma state Rep. Mike Reynolds introduces bill to ban all abortions upon overturn of Roe v. Wade;

FotF continues the "adult stem cells are just better stem cells" myth building; it's important to note that adult stem cells are not capable of the kind of de-differentiation that makes the whole stem-cell research line interesting - in biology terms, they are not totipotent, and are in fact only mildly pluripotent. They're useful and interesting but different at the DNA level; they're also attacking the credibility of polls showing support for embryonic stem-cell research in the US, on a suppositional basis;

FotF attacks ABC over the use of the typographical marker "[sic]", asserting it demonstrates an anti-religion slant; they also call it an "editorial comment" instead of a typographical marker. In my world, "[sic]" is used to mean "as in original" in instances when a particular element of quoted material appears to contain a mistake;

Faith and Freedom Network plans to wave the NAMBLA child-rapist banner at queers this year, and sets out their legislative agenda; they're also against sex-ed, any form of recognition of GBLT relationships, sex education that's anything other than abstinence-only, and so on;

FFN's position statement against any sexual education other than abstinence-only;

Focus on the Family promotes an "ex-gay" book;

FotF rails against the idea of allowing GBLT people to serve in the military - the occasion is a Clinton-era retired general saying he's changed his mind on the subject; Focus accuses "homosexual activists" of exploiting an old man who has had a stroke;

Focus on the Family calls a Canadian parental custody case creating "a third parent;" also, I really have to wonder whether the two lesbian women involved are married, but Focus on the Family just calls them "partners."

( Articles and excerpts below )