Letters From Grandpa #148

• LETTERS FROM GRANDPA
• 148

Dearest Grandchild,

Today’s letter will deal with prejudice and indoctrination on the college campus. The word “university” indicates unity in diversity. Many colleges, however, routinely censor any speech that is contrary to their liberal bias. Even at Berkley, as you know, riots have prevented conservative speakers from being heard. The bias is often directed especially at those who are Christians.

Let’s start with the story of Mark Armitage. He is a reputable scientist who has been published for over 30 years. He was hired by the California State University at Northridge. He refers to himself as a Micro Specialist and is an expert in taking pictures with microscopes, including electron microscopes. While doing research at the Hell Creek excavation site in Montana, he discovered what he believes to be the largest triceratops horn ever unearthed at that site. Upon examining the horn under a high powered microscope he was fascinated to find “soft tissue” in the sample. This, of course, raised a red flag in the minds of those who believe the bone to be over 60 million years old.

Mark even dared to publish data from this discovery. It was a scientific article that made no mention of his Christian faith, the Bible, or even the age of the triceratops horn. Not long after, however, his boss came into his laboratory ranting and raving and a short time late he was fired. A biology professor also warned him: “We are not going to tolerate your religion in this department”.

Armitage fought back and brought suit against the “university”. How is making a scientific discovery grounds for being dismissed from a “university”? Many professors and students praised his work of managing the microscope lab. Among other things, his suit alleged that he was excluded from a secret meeting of the microscopy committee. Mark even produced a “smoking gun” e-mail from “university” officials on how they could “ease him out” of his job.

The good news is that the courts agreed with Armitage and saw through the thin veneer of excuses for firing him. CSUN paid him a reported $399,500 to settle the suit.

The sad news is that the students at this university are now denied access to contact with a reputable scientist who dares to present evidence that might contradict evolution.

Then there is the case of David Coppedge. He had worked as a "team lead" on the Cassini mission exploring Saturn and its many moons. He alleges that he was discriminated against because he engaged his co-workers in conversations about intelligent design and handed out DVDs on the subject while at work. Coppedge lost his "team lead" title in 2009 and was let go last year after 15 years on the mission. He is now bringing suit against NASA.

Scientist Stephen Meyer is quoted in Wickipedia: “The numbers of scientists who question Darwinism is a minority, but it is growing fast. This is happening in the face of fierce attempts to intimidate and suppress legitimate dissent. Young scientists are threatened with deprivation of

tenure. Others have seen a consistent pattern of answering scientific arguments with ad hominem attacks. In particular, the series' attempt to stigmatize all critics--including scientists--as religious ‘reactionists’ is an excellent example of viewpoint discrimination.” Meyer claims he was fired for believing in “Intelligent Design” and considered an “Intellectual Terrorist”.

#

Caroline Crocker mentioned “Intelligent Design” in a couple of lectures at George Mason University. She was disciplined for teaching creationism and fired at the end of the semester.

#

Prof. Robert J. Marks II at Baylor University had tenure before expressing a belief in intelligent design. He said “I’m academically safe, but the young people, what has happened to them right now in America because of this scientific gulag is really terrible.”

#

William Brown, a theoretical biophysicist whose DNA research related to the human consciousness got him fired from his university position. He now works for the Resonance Project Foundation and Hawaii Institute for Unified Physics.

#

Astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez of Iowa State “University” states that saying “intelligent design” in a room of academics is to speak “fighting words”. He feels he would have had tenure had he not spoken of “intelligent design”. He charges that scientists who hold controversial views should keep quiet if they value their careers.

#

Etc.

Jesus came to bear witness of the truth and said that everyone on the side of the truth would hear His voice (Jn. 18:37). Christians are commanded to “prove all things; hold fast that which is good and to abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thess. 5:21). Please accept all truth, but do not be bullied by the high priests of evolution who are militant in silencing opposing points of view.

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce