Anyone BUT Anna Falling for Mayor

[cannon_fodder]

I had the misfortune of seeing Anna Falling's press conference at the Tulsa Zoo yesterday, and I am terrified.  I've never before seen a legitimate candidate for public office make a campaign promise to do all they can to mix Church and State.  Her goal is apparently to make this a Christian City in every way possible.  The answer to gangs?  Christian missionaries.  Find, good great, whatever.  But unfortunately the Zoo needs more Jesus too.

As I walked out of the Zoo a group of ~35 people held signs read (not quotes, I didn't write them down and didn't take pictures, just from memory):

• "Evolution is a religion NOT science."
• 
  "Jesus is our scientist."
• "Equal representation for the true origin of life."
• 
  "Darwin is not Christ."

The answer to educational problems in Oklahoma - well you've guessed it . . . more religion.  What we need to do is teach young people that a bronze age manuscript is a scientific instrument FROM GOD.  All the evidence in the fossil record, from conducted studies, and from observation is simply God teasing testing our faith.  In fact, any evidence contrary to anything in the bible was intentionally put there.  Thus, it's flawless.

They had a mock exhibit in place.  Basically showing several animals and explaining that their God made them the way they are.  It didn't explain that these animals are lesser life forms because previous life's were not lived according to the Hindu teachings.  Nor advance any other world view but for the fact that Jesus and his predecessors religious teachings are science.

I understand they are pissed that a giant cartoon like Elephant has a plaque that says "[some cultures revere the Elephant and even worship it as a god]."  (not actual quotes).  But when I go to the Montezuma's Castle National Park and there are ancient Indian stories of their Gods I don't really think they are expressing them as a religious tenant but as historical and cultural information.  When I go to the Gilcrease and see ancient historic artifacts they aren't there to promote that religion.   When I attend plains Indian cultural activities and the importance and reverence of the Buffalo is explained.  When the Tulsa Zoo has an elephant exhibit that includes information about how other cultures view the elephants as revered creatures or even God's, I don't think they are trying to convert anyone.

The express intention of putting a creationist exhibit in the Zoo (or teaching it int he classroom) is to espouse religious tenants.  You may as well teach that the Earth was formed in a bet between the Greek Gods or any number of competing religious teachings on where the Earth came from.  Yes, the Christian version is the most popular version in the United States - but that doesn't make it any more correct as a scientific fact than any other religious teaching.

How about this: next to the snake exhibit lets put in a statue of the Tree of Life with the serpent on a branch (could be a really cool statue actually).  A plaque can explain that in many ancient cultures serpents, aka snakes, were seen as a personification of evil.   Greeks, Hindu's, Zorrostrians, Babylonians, Sumerians and yes the Jews . . . many cultures have a story about a snake and a forbidden object.  To appease Falling we could ignore the fact that previous and subsequent cultures had similar stories and just proclaim the greatness of her GOD on the plaque and go on to explain that "although they were once seen as evil, today scientists understand that snakes play an important roll in many ecosystems."

Or is that too scientific?  Meanwhile, lets label the bats as birds.  Lets find some rabbits that have multi chambered stomachs and chew their cud, maybe a diorama of a dinosaur on a big boat with giraffes and people, and lets destroy all the plants at the zoo that have seeds smaller than mustard seeds.  That way, while the rest of the world happily moves on in reality, we can make Biblical Science a reality at the Tulsa Zoo.

Today we are announcing that God will be glorified in this city.  He shall not be shunned. Upon our election, we hereby commit to honoring Him in all ways that He has been dishonored . . .

Today I am announcing that Creationism is a religious tenant taken directly from a Bronze Age text.  The Zoo is a place of learning that attempts to both satisfy curiosity about the natural world and instill some knowledge into all of those that would come.  While the Bible has many fine moral and life lessons in it, portraying it as a scientific text in anyway is wholly inappropriate.  

I'm a proud supporter of my Zoo and am glad it teaches science.  Mrs. Falling is a proud supporter of her church and is proud it teaches religion.   Let's not mix the two.

http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=10888260





Side note:  The people making fun of Tulsa (again) on the internet are at least pretty funny:
http://www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=4569354

[rwarn17588]

Well said.

However, this sign jumped out at me:

• "Evolution is a religion NOT science."

Isn't that a complete turnaround from what the creationists have been insisting for years, in trying to get creationism taught in schools?

Or did a pro-science protester show up at the press conference?

[PepePeru]

I can't tell if they missed an "R" or an "S"

Yes, I too am a supporter of "Schistianity", or the worship of rocks.

[Conan71]

Don't worry Cannon, she hasn't got a chance so long as the rational voters are out there.

This was the same candidate who was running as "one man, one woman" in her County Commish campaign.  Smaligo won that one.

[FOTD]

Not being a registered Repiglican, FOTD can't support Fallingdown in the primary.

This is why we do not need to distinguish between parties in city elections.

The goons and goofs will not rise to the top in a general primary without party affiliation.

[Townsend]

I'll vote against her for you.  Count on it.

[FOTD]

I'll vote against her for you.  Count on it.

You missed my point. Vote for her!
Dewey will still take money from her peeps.....or creeps....whatever.

[Townsend]

You missed my point. Vote for her!
Dewey will still take money from her peeps.....or creeps....whatever.

Not your point I was trying to get.  That lunatic does not need to be in public office.  I don't want her anywhere close to getting enough votes to get the primary much less the election.

Medlock is the lesser of the two and I can't imagine that pud getting in there either.

[BKDotCom]

I ...

Excellent Post

[kylieosu]

*stands up and claps*

[sgrizzle]

I would've put money on Medlock being the candidate with the wacky ideas.

This is why I don't gamble..

[FOTD]

Not your point I was trying to get.  That lunatic does not need to be in public office.  I don't want her anywhere close to getting enough votes to get the primary much less the election.

Medlock is the lesser of the two and I can't imagine that pud getting in there either.

You want Screwy? He'd have us be Peckerville, not that we aren't already.

At least Fallingdown would be an authentic representation of who we really are....

Bunch of misfits running in the Republican primary.

[Breadburner]

You definetely don't need someone that is going backwards as the Mayor of this town....Then to add whack job to it leaves her way on the outside looking in.....

[Friendly Bear]

Ms. Anna Falling has been out of politics for some years, and I consider her a real long-shot to be elected Mayor. 
Nonetheless, I was a bit surprised that she would jump back into the fray after running her seemingly successful non-profit organization, with her husband's help, for some years.

Then, I had my very own epiphany.

Of course!
 
She's a political catspaw, to claw away and split the solid Conservative Christian Voter Base from the Chris Medlock voter base, allowing RINO Dewey, Jr. a win in the Winner-Take-All GOP Primary.

It's too bad we won't be able to see after the election if her Non-Profit organization is somehow mysteriously rewarded by a generous donation from a certain VERY large Charity headquartered in Tulsa...........that's ONE donation that we'll never hear about publically.  Bet on it!

We will get to see, however, when the Campaign Contributions and Expenditures report is finally filed, just who her OVERT financial backers are....

Any guesses?

Bank of Kaiser Kronies and King Kaiser, along with Lady McBeth herself Ruth Kaiser-Nelson, anyone?

[cannon_fodder]

Not to contribute to any FB conspiracy theories, but the books of many 501c3's are open to inspection.  So if you wanted to verify you could check her campaign filing and her 501c3.  HOWEVER, I will say she sounded genuine in her speech.  She had some gusto behind her campaign promises.