The Southern Israelite. (Augusta, Ga.) 1925-1986, May 30, 1986, Image 6

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PAGE 6 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE May 30, 1986 Kosher & Healthy Atlanta s source for Kosher Vitamins Parve Meat Substitutes Bulk: Grains, Cereals, Herbs & Teas 15% discount on Sunday for Seniors ARI’S HEALTH MARKET 1544 Piedmont Rd. Ansley Mall/876 4373 Open 7 days MIDTOWN GOURMET Home Delivery Service Barney’s Kosher Hors d’oeuvres 100 count $29.90 Oscherwitz (Best) Kosher Hot Dogs 5 lbs. (6 per lb.) $19.90 Norwegian Salmon 8 portions, '/•> lb. each $33.90 Halibut 8 portions, Vt lb. each $26.90 Exclusive Distributor for World Famous “GOLDEN PLAINS” OMAHA STEAKS in Metro Atlanta. Call for free brochure 873-3737 Northwest Downtown/M idtown Alan Copeland Steve, Robin, or Ward 433-2526 873-3737 Southside Marietta Debbie Harmon Richard Mitchell 964-6036 475-9436 " Sizes 14 10 24 ' A Complete Specialty Store Featuring DESIGNER COLLECTIONS For Career, Daytime, Casual and Evening. ladiidlBg Formal aod Informal Motfeor Of Tba Bride aid Groom Wardrobe Planning and Color Analysis by Trained ialists |Spec Ladies Designer Fashions 2385 PEACHTREE RD • 261-5100 Above Turlies PEACHTREE BATTLE PROMENADE DAILY 10-« The cutting edge Conflict in Louisiana by Edwin Black (Part One) Questions have been raised about the controversial handling of Louisiana’s tenacious litigation to permit Creation Science to be taught in public schools. Not only has Louisiana Attorney General William Guste allowed a private fundamentalist group to litigate the case, (soon to be heard by the Supreme Court); he has allowed them to pay for more than 90 per cent of the state’s legal fees and expenses—to date exceeding over a million dollars. Although nothing has been done in secret, the entire arrangement is not oniy unprece dented, it appears to violate the Louisiana Ethics Code. At the center of this conflict is an affable and likable fundamentalist, ex-newsman Bill Keith of Shreve port, La. In 1979, Keith gave up journalism for a seat in the State Senate and promptly spearheaded legislation compelling schools to devote equal time to teaching “Creation Science” if they also teach Darwinian evolution. Creation Science is the latest approach to teaching the biblical Genesis story in public schools. All references to the Bible and God are absent, allowing proponents such as Bill Keith to declare, “We are a science not a religion.” Simply put, Creation Science, according to Keith, analyzes the admittedly inconsistent fossil record which is rich in pure lifeforms such as frogs, leaves and apes, but lack ing in the transitional lifeforms Dwarwinian evolution claims. This fossil record supports a concept the creationists call “abrupt ap pearance” which they say is con sistent with the “creation story.” The creator’s name is scrupulously avoided to excise any religious preference. “We just don’t mention his name,” Keith declares. “Different people call him different things. Some might believe he was Allah. Could be Yahweh. But the only relationship between the Bible and Creation Science is that they come ‘Creation Science is the latest approach to teaching the biblical Genesis story in public schools. All references to the Bible and God are absent, allowing proponents such as Bill Keith to declare, “We are a science not a religion.’” to the same conclusion,” declares Keith. Sam Rabinove, legal director of the American Jewish Committee, offers insight from a recent unsuc cessful creationist attempt in Arkansas, also involving Keith and his followers. In the 1981 case, creation scientists said that the creation story was infallible, recalls Rabinove. “The Arkansas judge struck it down, asking what kind of scientific theory was not subject to revision?” recounts Rabinove. “He concluded that his was merely reli gious teaching masquerading as science.” Many in Louisiana considered Keith’s “Balanced Treatment for Creation Science Act” an identical masquerade even before the bill was passed. Opponents charged that if passed, the predicted consti tutional challenge would cost Louisiana taxpayers dearly. The state Department of Education decried an estimated $ 10 million in new textbooks and other imple mentation costs that would be wasted once the law was held un constitutional. But the Creation Science movement is a potent pol itical force in Louisiana. In July 1981, the state legislature enacted the law by a wide margin. Special arrangements To accommodate the critics, Keith made an agreement with the De partment of Education allowing them to delay buying books and taking other costly measures until the court fight was over. And in late August 1981, Keith offered Atlanta creationist attorney Wen dell Bird at no cost to the state. Bird’s free services were likewise offered to Arkansas Attorney General Steve Clark during the 1981 creationist effortnn that state, but Clark’s spokesman James Lee says they were declined. Describ ing the idea as “a dangerous prece dent,” Lee asserted, “When people come in and offer to help, you have to wonder about their motives.” But in Louisiana, Bird’s services were accepted, and in the fall of 1981, he was appointed a special assistant attorney general. How was Bird to be paid? “That was between him (Bird) and Bill Keith,” recounts Attorney General Guste’s spokesman Rusty Jabour. Keith confirms, “1 was to raise the money, and he (Guste) never asked me how I was going to raise it.” In fact, the money was raised from private donations—big and small—from creationists and fun damentalists across the country. Bird, who normally charges $125 per hour, agreed to work at a dis counted rate of $100 per hour, according to sources close to Bird. Immediately taking the offensive, just appointed Special Assistant Attorney General Bird launched a massive “pre-emptive suit” in fed eral court to establish the law’s constitutionally. But it was soon thrown out. Sources in Guste’s office explain that the storm of legal pyrotechnics—including over 50depositions—quickly exhausted a $75,000 state appropriation to fight the case. An assistant to Guste recalls, “I went to the legislature Continued next page. BRIDGES THE GAP! GULD & ASSOCIATES, INC. is the 1st real estate relocation company to offer a service that specializes in the interests of Jewish families buying a home. Our real estate agents, in over 850 cities, can answer all your questions regarding their Jewish community. I his service is provided at no charge^to you! Call us todav GULDC& Associates inc 1-800-233-GULD (In NC call c-olk’t t: 919 ~82-47:JO) T , Nationwide Residential Relocation Services CRCjjT 2500 Blue Rid#- Rd Suite 321 employee Raleigh. North Carolina 27607 SSjnol^