by Jeffrey Graf

Created on: February 27, 2010   Last Updated: February 28, 2010

Let me first say that this title caught my eye because I believe that is based upon a spurious premise. There have always been struggles between the various forces in society, but science as we know it has only existed for a few hundred years, and the role of science in society as a whole did not begin until science entered the public education system in the early part of the twentieth century. Nineteen hundred years before the sciences entered the public school curriculum, and thus became part of society as we know it, all of the forces we commonly recognize as social struggles existed in the Roman empire. Rome had a representative government implemented as a senate, Rome had a system of gods and religion, Rome had military leaders on continuous expeditions of conquest, and an oppressive system of taxation. Given that every element of human struggle is documented in the New Testament, what role might there be for science to enter the fray almost 2000 years later?

Well it seems there are many fronts. It seems that ever advancing industrialism has devoured the environment to the extent that tracking the devastation to the planet has become synonymous with science. I agree that the term global warming, that was originally chosen for climate change was misleading and unfortunate. Desertification would have been a better term, at least as it applies to the African continent.

But, although climate change has become a hot button, it is really not at heart of the struggle that religious authoritarian forces are waging. Authoritarians battle education itself.  Authoritarians refer to people who are the result of the education system, and who respect  the education system "liberals". They then further define liberals as those who are out to destroy society for their own devious delight.

Within the education system it is the sciences that are the prime targets. Authoritarianism relies on indoctrination as gaining control over society. In respect to issues in which there are two sides to be considered, authoritarian docterine always decrees that one side is right and one side is wrong, and no further consideration is necessary. There are many examples. The idea that people might form labor unions and bargain collectively is liberal and subversive. Labor unions are the target of authoritarian tirades nightly on such authoritarian media outlets as Fox News. Once a doctrine has been decreed, and anointed as being conservative, all further discussion must be

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