Akateemista vapautta Oklahomasta

Richard Dawkins oli kutsuttu Oklahoman yliopistolle levittämään ateismin ilosanomaa. Hurskas poliitikko Todd Thomsen ei tykännyt ajatuksesta. Hän laati ehdotuksen, jossa vaaditaan Dawkinsin bännäämistä kampusalueelta. Thomsen päättelee näin: Yliopistoa ylläpidetään yleisillä varoilla, joten tietenkään yliopisto ei saa edustaa yksisilmäisesti vain yhtä näkökantaa. Dawkinsin edustama näkökanta loukkaa joidenkin kansalaisia.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 52ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representative strongly opposes the invitation to speak on the campus of the University of Oklahoma to Richard Dawkins of Oxford University, whose published statements on the theory of evolution and opinion about those who do not believe in the theory are contrary and offensive to the views and opinions of most citizens of Oklahoma.

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives encourages the University of Oklahoma to engage in an open, dignified, and fair discussion of the Darwinian theory of evolution and all other scientific theories which is the approach that a public institution should be engaged in and which represents the desire and interest of the citizens of Oklahoma.

Oklahoman lakisäätäjät nyrpistivät nenäänsä ehdotukselle.

Mutta jos edellä mainittu teksti ei tuntunut tarpeeksi järkyttävältä, niin ei hätää. Se oli kompromissiratkaisu, josta oli pyyhitty pois kaikkein kovimmat aivopierut.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 52ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives hereby expresses its disapproval of the current indoctrination of the Darwinian theory of evolution at the University of Oklahoma and further requests that an open, dignified, and fair discussion of this idea and all other ideas be engaged in on campus which is the approach that a public institution should be engaged in and which represents the desire and interest of the citizens of Oklahoma.
THAT the Oklahoma House of Representative strongly opposes the invitation to speak on the campus of the University of Oklahoma to Richard Dawkins of Oxford University, whose published statements on the theory of evolution and opinion about those who do not believe in the theory are contrary and offensive to the views and opinions of most citizens of Oklahoma.