Christianist Witch Hunt in Georgia

It seems that our Christianist enemies will use every available excuse to try to stomp out knowledge and courses of study that conflict with their flat earth mentality. A case in point is the witch hunt being spearheaded in Georgia by Christianist/GOP members of the state legislature who want to fire college professors and instructors teaching courses that the Bible thumpers dislike. As I have noted numerous times, these folks - just like Benedict XVI - want to take knowledge and investigative educational levels back to some Medieval level so that their intolerant religious views will go unchallenged. I mean, God forbid that college students be able to explore issues their Christo-fascist parents and preachers want off limits. Hopefully, some folks will investigate the GOP demagogues leading the charge (one is Charlice Byrd pictured above) to see if their lives are lily white and that they adhere to the Bible in every way, including never having divorced a spouse. Here are some highlights from the Athens Banner Herald:

*

Upset House Republicans are mounting a campaign to purge Georgia's higher education system of professors with an expertise in racy sexuality topics as the state grapples with a $2.2 billion shortfall. State Rep. Charlice Byrd, R-Woodstock, took the House well on Friday to announce a "grassroots" effort to oust professors with expertise in subjects like male prostitution, oral sex and "queer theory." "This is not considered higher education," Byrd said. "If legislators are going to dole out the dollars, we should have a say-so in where they go."

*

Byrd and her supporters, including state Rep. Calvin Hill, R-Canton, said they will team with the Christian Coalition and other religious groups to pressure fellow lawmakers and the University System Board of Regents to eliminate the jobs. "Our job is to educate our people in sciences, business, math," said Hill, a vice chairman of the budget-writing House Appropriations Committee. He said professors aren't going to meet those needs "by teaching a class in queer theory."

*

The regents, who oversee the state's colleges and universities, has bristled at attempts by legislators to dictate who they should hire. A regents spokesman said the university system's mission - teaching, research and service - is a broad field. He said the state's schools hire faculty with expertise in a range of subjects as part of "a tradition of investigating the human experience." And he noted that they aren't teaching "how-to" courses, but rather they are experts on the sociological trends and risks.

*

Georgia State spokeswoman Andrea Jones called the critics' argument "flawed." "Teaching courses in criminal justice, for example, does not mean that our students are being prepared to become criminals. Quite the opposite," said Jones. "Legitimate research and teaching are central to the development of relevant and effective policy."