Posted on 12/07/2010 8:55:07 AM PST by wmfights
A proposal to build a theme park that would feature a life-size replica of Noah’s Ark has set off a controversy in Kentucky that is worth watching. Within days, the controversy had spread to the pages of The New York Times and USA Today.
So, who’s afraid of Noah’s Ark? Lots of folks, it seems, but the editors of the state’s two largest newspapers, in particular.
The “Ark Encounter” is a major project to be undertaken by a partnership led by Answers in Genesis, the group that built the Creation Museum in northern Kentucky — an attraction that has now recorded over a million visitors by some reports. The attraction, also to be built in Kentucky, is to include live animals and a 100-ft tower of Babel.
The partnership has applied for incentives under the Kentucky Tourism Development Act, and Governor Steve Beshear announced plans for the park at a news conference in the Kentucky State Capitol.
Then . . . the deluge.
The Courier-Journal of Louisville editorialized that the project would amount to “creationist tourism” that would embarrass the state by featuring “a fundamentalist view resting on biblical inerrancy [that] indirectly promotes a religious dogma.”
The editors asked, “Why stop with creationism? How about a Flat-Earth Museum? Or one devoted to the notion that the sun revolves around the Earth?”
An op-ed column in the same paper lamented with frustration the fact that the proposed theme park was just another reminder that “only 39 percent of Americans believe in the theory of evolution.”
Meanwhile, the state’s second-largest paper, the Lexington Herald-Leader, declared: “Anyone who wants to believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible has that right.” But, the paper added, the state would be embarrassed by appearing through its governor to embrace “such thinking.”
The paper reported that Daniel Phelps, president of the Kentucky Paleontological Society, called Gov. Beshear’s support of the project “embarrassing for the state.”
The editorial boards of the state’s two largest newspapers seem to be very embarrassed indeed. Gov. Beshear kept his comments fixed on economics: “The people of Kentucky didn’t elect me governor to debate religion,” he said. “They elected me governor to create jobs.”
The proposed theme park is expected to attract 1.6 million visitors in its first year, bringing a $250 million annual economic impact within five years.
The most interesting aspect of this controversy isn’t the proposed theme park, but the panic among the commonwealth’s self-appointed guardians of evolutionary theory.
So who’s afraid of Noah’s Ark? Now, we know.
Its my understanding from both AIG and Ark Encounter that the ark portion of the park is to be funded entirely by donation, not tax dollars. From the URL under FAQ under "How will it be funded?" is the following statement:
The bulk of the Ark Encounter will be built by the limited liability company (LLC). The Ark structure itself will be funded through donations.
"Individuals may make tax-deductible donations through the “Ark Pegs, Planks, & Beams” program, which gives everyone the opportunity to sponsor an actual peg, plank or beam that will be used to build the Ark. Sponsors will receive benefits that include a certificate of authenticity and special invitations to behind-the-scenes tours and grand opening events. Through the Ark website (ArkEncounter.com), all sponsors will have the opportunity to see the general location where their sponsored peg, plank, or beam is located in the Ark."
I've been watching the total donations rise - they've been given $20,000 pretty much just since the park was announced less than a week ago.
I thought we already did that. It's called "multiculturalism" (you know, science is white, "western," and male and must never replace the creation myths of the "indigenous pipples").
One minute us rednecks are being piled on by the rationalists. The next we're accused of importing alien western science and rationalism to "Turtle Island." And funny thing, the rationalists and the "indigenous pipples" never seem to encounter each other. Instead they just take turns beating up on us rednecks.
Just like the ol' time rasslin'--the "heels" never feud with each other.
Uhhh, the creationist project has already been done, several years ago. It has brought millions of dollars of tourism money to the state and been a smashing success on every conceivable level. The ark project has nothing to do with creationism, to the contrary, it could better be described in a context of destructionism. Finally, if it is half as successful as the creation museum was Kentucky will be much the better for it.
The partnership has applied for incentives under the Kentucky Tourism Development Act,
There's the problem.
So, a few atheist editorialists are embarrassed. Screw ‘em.
Well, then so other than they don't like the idea, what's their problem?
“How long can you tread water?”
They have the same problem liberals have - crush any dissent, silence any opposition, oppress anyone who disagrees.
You know you just shouldn't be allowed to build something that might cause people to doubt evolution and start becoming creationists who have the audacity to actually begin to believe in God???? /s
bttt
No I hate to tell you folks but this is not the embarassement to Kentucky it is you and your obivious over reaction that is the embarassment to Kentucky! Once again free thought and speech ends with the left!
Tell them Ark display includes a rainbow, that’ll shut them up.
The family stopped at the Creation Museum a couple of years ago. IMO, it was worth the stop but I don't think that I would go back. However, I will go to the Noah's Ark park if only to annoy people like the ones who wrote this article.
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