Respecting (some) creation stories. If you'd like to listen to the NPR Weekend Edition Sunday segment I mentioned last Thursday, the audio file can be found here. Well worth a listen, covering several aspects of the controversy, including the pending McCain amendment. Re the amendment, reporter Martin Kaste gleaned some interesting comments from Rob Roy Smith, an attorney for tribal plaintiffs in the Kennewick Man case, whose position Kaste describes as being that "courts must weigh cultural beliefs as well as science". In Smith's own words, supporting the amendment:

Tribal members believe that they have simply been here. Their creations stories have them created from the coyote or from other animals that are indigenous to these places and have always been here. And again, those stories have to be respected.

Now, it is true that, depending on exactly what issues and rights we're talking about, science doesn't always legally trump "cultural beliefs" - people are, after all, free to believe what they choose about origins. But note what he is explicitly arguing for here: inscribing respect for particular "creation stories" into U.S. law, and requiring all other citizens, whatever their beliefs, from studying any evidence that might challenge the protected creation stories.

Odd, isn't it, that when people try to pull stunts similar to this (if not quite so extreme in scope) in Kansas or Georgia, a lot of other people (rightfully) go nuts on 'em.

(More Kennewick/NAGPRA.)

Posted by Moira Breen at 13 June 2005 03:29 PM