In preamble, let me say I love Utah almost singularly among the Red States. Not simply for its stunning, almost unrivalled physical beauty. But also for its people- a remarkable cabal of progressive "Pioneers" trying to tame the sorrier elements of the Mormon Church.
And, indeed, for Mormons, whom I genuinely like, despite the cretinous cult they freely choose to belong to. We own property in Utah, and plan on retiring there some day.
I'm not surprised by the good things that come out of Utah. Salt Lake City has a very Democratic mayor, one who has been as critical of President Bush as any mayor in the country. And, Salt Lake City has a Demcoratic Congressman, quite a feat given Republicans probably, truth be told, hold a 70-30 edge in Utah as a whole.
None of that rivals what just transpired there.
First, understand that the Utah State Legislature is a sorry body reflecting the redness outside Salt Lake City and the depravity of the leadership of the Mormon Church. Among the high-profile filth is a State Rep named Chris Buttars, instrumental in, among other things, permitting teachers to have concealed weapons in classrooms.
Buttars tried to interject Intelligent Design into the curriculum in Utah, and it went before the State Board of Education. And a remarkable thing happened.
In a UNANIMOUS vote, the State Board rejected I.D. completely and unambiguously. Editorializing in favor of this rejection, the Salt Lake Tribune (a fine paper) says:
"... The board understands, as do all scientists worthy of the name, that to fill in the many real scientific, emotional or moral gaps in the observable universe with hypotheses about unseen hands that have molded the world is, by definition, not science. It is philosophy, religion or myth, all of which are just about as necessary to human survival as is science. But it is not science. ..."
The entire editorial is unambiguous. The State Board of Education's actions were unambiguous. Please hold out hope for Utah. Please respect the Democrats who are succeeding there.
And, keep an eye out for Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson- he is timber.