We don't need no education

[pbray]

IMAX theaters in southern states are refusing to show a feature on volcanoes since the movie includes a reference to evolution that they fear might offend audiences. Theaters in Texas, Georgia and North & South Carolina have declined to show the film.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/23/volcano.movie.ap/index.html

Comments

[shawn-scarber.livejournal.com]

ARGH! Just for the record, not all Texans idiots.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

In fact all the Texans I know personally are reasonable, intelligent folk.

I think the issue here may be the tyranny of the minority-- the anti-evolution forces are likely to mobilize, picket the theater, denounce the movie, and argue passionately at PTA meetings why their children shouldn't be taken to see this movie on school field trips. Having visited an IMAX theater in North Carolina back when they were showing a movie on tropical rain forests, I can vouch that much of the audience for that showing at least, was school age children who had come in various groups, presumably school trips, scouting, etc.

Unfortunately the pro-science forces aren't organized, and don't tend to show up en masse at PTA meetings to shout in favor of exposing children to commonly accepted scientific theories. Or even to lend support for the idea that children should be exposed to a diversity of ideas and allowed to form their own opinions. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and if the majority is silent, the vocal minority is going to win.

At least I'd like to think that the anti-science forces are the minority, but judging by recent headlines it seems obvious that in some circles they are becoming the majority.