NationStates Jolt Archive

The Issue
Religious and scientific leaders have clashed recently over the teaching of evolution in public schools.

The Debate
1. "Ach, good to see you haff made it here in one piece," says evil doctor Colin Li as you wake up strapped to a chair in a secret lab. "As you can see from my brilliant experiments, science has now solved zer problems of zer vorld und ve need nothink else! I propose zat ve do AVAY vith zer teachink of silly thinks like religion und concentrate on zer FACTS! For a start, ve must teach our children where ve came from. Ve shouldn't be teaching anythink that hasn't been scientifically proven - er - accounted for, I mean. Igor, release our guest - I haff a monkey to show him..."

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


2. "That's a LIE, son, we come from the great meteor of truth!" yells firebrand preacher Pastor Richards, kicking down your door. "We cannot allow there transgressions against the HOLY truth to continue! All the heathens should be thankful we don't burn them at the stake for their devilry! This nation's true and just government must ban the filth and corruption being spread bah these WICKED men!"
[Accept]


3. "What I'm wondering is why we need to take sides on this," says student Bianca Hanover. "After all, it's only a theory. An unproven theory. It's not like it has any bearing on real life - let's just allow the biologists to teach evolution but emphasise that it's only a theory, but also make them teach other theories such as creationism. Heck, we can tell them that crackpot theory that we're all descended from Makaarian Eagles too! Then everyone goes away happy."
[Accept]


4. "Stop bickering already!" says Alexei Li, Minister of Education. "I say that you can have your cake and eat it, too. Education should be split if it stops this debate. The parents can send their children to secular schools or religious schools, based on what they want their kids to hear. It's expensive, certainly, but the education budget has been needing boosted for ages anyway."
[Accept]




Is it me, or is this slightly biased in favour of teaching creationism in schools? An "evil" doctor campaigns for the teaching of evolution and nothing else, a less-evil preacher wanting the banning of evolution, a sane student who says both should be taught, and then the mandatory extreme option that involves some sort of segregation.

All the Issues are extreme. Some don't even give both sides of the issue.

And no, they won't edit the issues. Thats just how it is.

Oh do I hate that issue. This is a good case of "what were they thinking?"

Generally most if not all issues should be presented in the comfort of your office. But this resolution starts off with issue god modding from option 1, as apparently you are kidnapped by some sort of wacko evil doctor.

Ladies and gentlemen, would any of you accept the option of someone who has just kidnapped you? Especially one who has a worse case of security than you do. (See option 2)

Now in option 2 someone kicks down a door. But it's not any door it's "your door." How did I get a door in the secret lab of the evil doctor? How come an evil doctor who could get past my secret service manage to get himself broken into by an irate pastor? Where are my guards!

I don't even want to know how a student and my minister of education came into the room! I must be dreaming under heavy sedation!

As to bias, I'm really torn. I think only option 4 is the one that has the least "are you kidding me" potential, although I'm still far too pissed at my minister of education. Arrest them all, I say and dismiss the issue is probably he best sounding option!

Is it me, or is this slightly biased in favour of teaching creationism in schools? An "evil" doctor campaigns for the teaching of evolution and nothing else, a less-evil preacher wanting the banning of evolution, a sane student who says both should be taught, and then the mandatory extreme option that involves some sort of segregation.

Nah, I think both are pretty extreme; wacky scientist and over zealous preacher, I for sure wouldn't want it any other way.

I think the third option may be the most extreme of all of them. "Let's teach anything without regard to value, as long as it makes everyone happy" pretty much tosses education out the window in favor of 'feel-good personal empowerment' which nobody in their right mind would ... uhhh ... oh wait ... ...


Dammit.

Oh do I hate that issue. This is a good case of "what were they thinking?"On that specific issue? Siro made the mistake of asking GMC and I for help when we were both very tired and feeling more than a little silly. Hence the dialect.

All the Issues are extreme. Some don't even give both sides of the issue.

And no, they won't edit the issues. Thats just how it is.

While I am at times unhappy with some issues for said reasons, there's always the option to dismiss these issues, which I do.

I like this issue, it's humourous and a lot more interesting that the rest of them. A lot of issues involve 'you' meeting random members of your nation who then give you their opinions, it allows more extreme views to be given.