A few weeks ago my dad and I took my son and my nephew to Dinosaur Valley State Park out in Glenrose, TX. Boys that age can't get enough of "adventuring" and we had a fantastic time. The weather was perfect, the river was cool and clear, we saw lizards and snakes and hunted for fossils (dad's a geologist/paleontologist) and we all marvelled at how exciting it was to stand in the massive, ancient footprints of dinosaurs. It was the perfect guy's day out. We returned home exhausted and sunburned and pigged out on Mexican food.
I found out this afternoon that my nephew's other (paternal) grandparents, religious fundies both (this is not an overstatement by any means), were very upset when they heard about this. They are taking my nephew right back to Glenrose this weekend for their own day of fun, only this time they will be visiting the Creation Museum strategically placed a half mile down the road from the lies and wickedness of the State Park.
This fills me with rage, though I suppose I shouldn't let it bother me. He isn't my son, first of all, and my sister and brother-in-law will be going as well so obviously none of the important decision makers thought it fit to object. Their specific intent is to undo our "scientific brainwashing", though, which profoundly offends me. And this isn't new. When my son was born the grandmother in question declared that God did not like the fact that I wasn't married. I was so engraged that I reminded her that one of her daughters is retarded (which she is) so she must have really pissed him off. I have nothing but disgust and contempt for her. She believes she is a prophet. Why are these people allowed to walk around in the world? Honestly. It's a good thing I have normal blood pressure.
Go ahead and tell me I'm wrong for being angered by all of this and remind me that in the long term it will prove trivial. They're old. They'll be dead soon anyway, right?
I don't even believe that science and God are mutually exclusive. But again, it's the motive here. The insidiousness of an old lady's self righteousness. I'm petty, I know.
I found out this afternoon that my nephew's other (paternal) grandparents, religious fundies both (this is not an overstatement by any means), were very upset when they heard about this. They are taking my nephew right back to Glenrose this weekend for their own day of fun, only this time they will be visiting the Creation Museum strategically placed a half mile down the road from the lies and wickedness of the State Park.
This fills me with rage, though I suppose I shouldn't let it bother me. He isn't my son, first of all, and my sister and brother-in-law will be going as well so obviously none of the important decision makers thought it fit to object. Their specific intent is to undo our "scientific brainwashing", though, which profoundly offends me. And this isn't new. When my son was born the grandmother in question declared that God did not like the fact that I wasn't married. I was so engraged that I reminded her that one of her daughters is retarded (which she is) so she must have really pissed him off. I have nothing but disgust and contempt for her. She believes she is a prophet. Why are these people allowed to walk around in the world? Honestly. It's a good thing I have normal blood pressure.
Go ahead and tell me I'm wrong for being angered by all of this and remind me that in the long term it will prove trivial. They're old. They'll be dead soon anyway, right?
I don't even believe that science and God are mutually exclusive. But again, it's the motive here. The insidiousness of an old lady's self righteousness. I'm petty, I know.
