Comments on: Meet Zack Kopplin, the 19-year-old who started winning battles against teaching creationism in Louisiana public schools when he was 14 http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Mon, 20 May 2013 22:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Shirley Jones http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1631037 Shirley Jones Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1631037 Good on Zack!   Now will somebody please help him to get a scholarship to a decent law school?  We need heroes like this instead of self-serving swine (a la Carmen Ortiz) interpreting the law. Good on Zack!   Now will somebody please help him to get a scholarship to a decent law school?  We need heroes like this instead of self-serving swine (a la Carmen Ortiz) interpreting the law.

]]> By: orgetorix http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1630525 orgetorix Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1630525  May we all be Touched by His Noodly Appendages.  May we all be Touched by His Noodly Appendages.

]]> By: Luc Schots http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1630154 Luc Schots Thu, 17 Jan 2013 13:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1630154 If they get to teach creationism, I want equal time for the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster http://www.venganza.org/ If they get to teach creationism, I want equal time for the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster http://www.venganza.org/

]]> By: redesigned http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1630121 redesigned Thu, 17 Jan 2013 09:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1630121 A certain percent of tax money is allocated to education and those institutions that are legitimately educating children are already stretched thin budget wise. It is not fair to take some of that money and channel it to institutions that are mis-educating children.  They have to meet state/federal guidelines to receive state/federal money, period.  If they are required to teach science, then then need to teach science.  They can't just slap that label on any BS and call it good. A certain percent of tax money is allocated to education and those institutions that are legitimately educating children are already stretched thin budget wise.

It is not fair to take some of that money and channel it to institutions that are mis-educating children.  They have to meet state/federal guidelines to receive state/federal money, period.  If they are required to teach science, then then need to teach science.  They can’t just slap that label on any BS and call it good.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1630102 Antinous / Moderator Thu, 17 Jan 2013 08:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1630102 Where do you live that you get to specify what you're paying taxes toward? Where do you live that you get to specify what you’re paying taxes toward?

]]> By: John Eikenberry http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1630097 John Eikenberry Thu, 17 Jan 2013 07:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1630097 I didn't realize we pay a hooker and blow tax. Though I guess you could count the part of our tax that pays the congress members salaries as covering that. I didn’t realize we pay a hooker and blow tax. Though I guess you could count the part of our tax that pays the congress members salaries as covering that.

]]> By: jhertzli http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1630053 jhertzli Thu, 17 Jan 2013 05:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1630053 I had thought Creationism was a heaping load of bulshytt until now but a supposedly scientific controversy being pushed by a non-scientist makes me suspicious. On the other hand, the Creationist side has even more non-scientists... I had thought Creationism was a heaping load of bulshytt until now but a supposedly scientific controversy being pushed by a non-scientist makes me suspicious. On the other hand, the Creationist side has even more non-scientists…

]]> By: toyg http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629990 toyg Thu, 17 Jan 2013 02:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629990 Because it's apparently easy to solve ("hey, we are majority, let's change it!"), but in practice they cannot really win (there will always be some sane person higher up, overruling their crazy with science). This way, it keeps the little people focused and forever militant, ready to pour more and more money in the coffers of this or that "reverend". Because it’s apparently easy to solve (“hey, we are majority, let’s change it!”), but in practice they cannot really win (there will always be some sane person higher up, overruling their crazy with science). This way, it keeps the little people focused and forever militant, ready to pour more and more money in the coffers of this or that “reverend”.

]]> By: jandrese http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629971 jandrese Thu, 17 Jan 2013 01:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629971 Thanks Grandpa.  Thanks Grandpa. 

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629941 Antinous / Moderator Thu, 17 Jan 2013 01:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629941 If that's true, then I want some vouchers for (male) hookers and blow. It's my money, after all. If that’s true, then I want some vouchers for (male) hookers and blow. It’s my money, after all.

]]> By: John Eikenberry http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629832 John Eikenberry Wed, 16 Jan 2013 22:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629832 He's wrong. If they are paying taxes then vouchers are fair. It is their money coming back to them. He’s wrong. If they are paying taxes then vouchers are fair. It is their money coming back to them.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629811 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 16 Jan 2013 22:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629811 The drinking age was 18 when I reached the drinking age. The drinking age was 18 when I reached the drinking age.

]]> By: flickerKuu http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629753 flickerKuu Wed, 16 Jan 2013 21:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629753 I don't understand how someone can attain the level of attorney yet have the absolute lack of knowledge one needs to "possess" to be pro-creationism. I just don't get how smart people can believe in things like Noah's ark over Darwinism... I don’t understand how someone can attain the level of attorney yet have the absolute lack of knowledge one needs to “possess” to be pro-creationism. I just don’t get how smart people can believe in things like Noah’s ark over Darwinism…

]]> By: wysinwyg http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629536 wysinwyg Wed, 16 Jan 2013 18:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629536 Because the whole idea of Christianity is that God made you with a purpose.  If evolution works there is no need for either God or purpose.  Also, fundamentalist Christianity is a complete world view whose adherents want it to be <em>the</em> worldview and they view secularism -- including all that sciencey garbage -- as competition that must be utterly destroyed to make way for a Christian theocracy which many fundies believe would be the only justified sort of government possible. Because the whole idea of Christianity is that God made you with a purpose.  If evolution works there is no need for either God or purpose.  Also, fundamentalist Christianity is a complete world view whose adherents want it to be the worldview and they view secularism — including all that sciencey garbage — as competition that must be utterly destroyed to make way for a Christian theocracy which many fundies believe would be the only justified sort of government possible.

]]> By: Navin_Johnson http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629484 Navin_Johnson Wed, 16 Jan 2013 18:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629484 Fight the good fight Zack! Fight the good fight Zack!

]]> By: IronEdithKidd http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629452 IronEdithKidd Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629452 Ontario, Canada.  Today. [Edit] To be clear, I graduated high school last millenia, but the alcohol minimum purchase age in Ontario is 19 right now. Ontario, Canada.  Today.

[Edit] To be clear, I graduated high school last millenia, but the alcohol minimum purchase age in Ontario is 19 right now.

]]> By: jandrese http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629448 jandrese Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629448 How long ago were you in school that 19 year olds could buy alcohol?  How long ago were you in school that 19 year olds could buy alcohol? 

]]> By: Jardine http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629433 Jardine Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629433 When I was in high school there were plenty of 19-year-olds there. It made getting alcohol a lot easier if you were into that since you could ask a fellow student to buy it for you. When I was in high school there were plenty of 19-year-olds there. It made getting alcohol a lot easier if you were into that since you could ask a fellow student to buy it for you.

]]> By: ldobe http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629412 ldobe Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629412 Because a literal interpretation of the writings of bronze-age nomads that was later assembled into a book by a committee of religious oligarchs can be construed to say that humans are different and special from any other form of life. Gullible people and children are then indoctrinated by its proponents into that interpretation and trained that feelings are always more important than facts. Because a literal interpretation of the writings of bronze-age nomads that was later assembled into a book by a committee of religious oligarchs can be construed to say that humans are different and special from any other form of life. Gullible people and children are then indoctrinated by its proponents into that interpretation and trained that feelings are always more important than facts.

]]> By: Ramone http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629405 Ramone Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629405 Truly this young man is doing <strike> God's</strike> Darwin's work. Way to go Zack! Truly this young man is doing God’s Darwin’s work. Way to go Zack!

]]> By: Felton / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629340 Felton / Moderator Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629340 Also, the headline doesn't mention high school at all. Also, the headline doesn’t mention high school at all.

]]> By: Jesus http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629329 Jesus Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629329 Zack Kopplin, you are my personal Elvis Presley. Zack Kopplin, you are my personal Elvis Presley.

]]> By: oasisob1 http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629316 oasisob1 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629316 Hey, if there's a bug in her ass, you can bet God put it there. Hey, if there’s a bug in her ass, you can bet God put it there.

]]> By: pickledbeatnik http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629312 pickledbeatnik Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629312 How does ". . . the 19-year-old who started winning battles against teaching creationism in Louisiana public schools . . . " imply that he's pro-creationism? How does “. . . the 19-year-old who started winning battles against teaching creationism in Louisiana public schools . . . ” imply that he’s pro-creationism?

]]> By: pickledbeatnik http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629311 pickledbeatnik Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629311 Kopplin and the lady at the table with him are awesome, and have it together; Attorney Lady needs to get that bug out of her ass. Kopplin and the lady at the table with him are awesome, and have it together; Attorney Lady needs to get that bug out of her ass.

]]> By: OldBrownSquirrel http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629310 OldBrownSquirrel Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629310 I can't see a  wunderkind any more without being worried that some malicious federal prosecutor is going to make an example of him. :-( I can’t see a  wunderkind any more without being worried that some malicious federal prosecutor is going to make an example of him. :-(

]]> By: SomeGuyNamedMark http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629309 SomeGuyNamedMark Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629309 Something is wrong when even a 14 yr old can't believe the bullsh*t being pushed on him. I never understood why this one aspect of science bothers fundies so much.  There are plenty of other fairy tales for them to get worked up about. Something is wrong when even a 14 yr old can’t believe the bullsh*t being pushed on him.

I never understood why this one aspect of science bothers fundies so much.  There are plenty of other fairy tales for them to get worked up about.

]]> By: GP http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629297 GP Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629297 Effin awesome, the utmost respect! Howeverrrrrr... There's a problem with the fully-private compromise. A school can't really get fully private because government will always have to validate the diplomas it issues. And I don't think anyone should be validating diplomas issued by schools teaching you the Loch Ness Monster is real. That's just never okay, no matter where the cash is coming from. I get why she'd argue that way, it makes her look a lot more reasonable but you have to wonder if we should be allowing people to teach this drivel at all. I mean we're pretty much fully stocked on idiots, no need to create (ha!) some more. Effin awesome, the utmost respect!

Howeverrrrrr…

There’s a problem with the fully-private compromise. A school can’t really get fully private because government will always have to validate the diplomas it issues. And I don’t think anyone should be validating diplomas issued by schools teaching you the Loch Ness Monster is real. That’s just never okay, no matter where the cash is coming from.

I get why she’d argue that way, it makes her look a lot more reasonable but you have to wonder if we should be allowing people to teach this drivel at all.

I mean we’re pretty much fully stocked on idiots, no need to create (ha!) some more.

]]> By: mindysan33 http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629296 mindysan33 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629296 Good for him.  Good for him. 

]]> By: element_104 http://boingboing.net/2013/01/16/meet-zack-kopplin-the-19-year.html#comment-1629294 element_104 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206077#comment-1629294 The headline makes it sound like he's pro-creationism, or something. It also implies he's a 19 yr old high school student.  The headline makes it sound like he’s pro-creationism, or something. It also implies he’s a 19 yr old high school student. 

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