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Sorry for the cross post for those who subscribe to Museum . Below is 
the article referred to in The Oklahoman.

Martin

Date: Wed, 08 Jun 2005 09:04:51 -0700
From: Richard Fields <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Tulsa Zoo and Creationism
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Hello listers,
Without going into the religious side of the
discussion, I thought I'd bring this up to you folks.
The Tulsa Zoo has been ordered by its board to install
an exhibit on creationism. The zoo has an exhibit on
evolution, but what really got folks riled was a hindu
statue of an elephant (Ganesha), and a piece of art
that says "the earth is our mother." The
pro-creationism folks say the door was opened by the
Zoo when they put the info and icons on other
religions in the Zoo. There is info on the Tulsa World
and Daily Oklahoman web pages, but you must go through
the free registration process to read the articles.
Cheers



Wed June 8, 2005
Hindu statue at Tulsa's zoo spurs plans for creation exhibits

By Chad Previch
The Oklahoman

  TULSA - The Tulsa Zoo will have to add exhibits showing several 
cultural views of creation, the Tulsa Park and Recreation Board voted 
Tuesday.
  David Conrad of Bixby and Anna Ewing of Jenks look at the statue of 
Ganesha at the Tulsa Zoo. Photo by Mel Root


  The vote came after a complaint that some religions were represented 
at the zoo while others were not. The main complaint centered on a 
5-foot elephant statue called "Ganesha," the Hindu god of success.

  Ganesha, which sits near the elephant exhibit, has been there about 
10 years, but Dan Hicks, a Tulsa resident, said it was religious - 
not educational.

  "I think this decision by the Park and Recreation Board is a victory 
for the citizens of Tulsa, because the majority view of creation is 
now going to be represented at the Tulsa Zoo," Hicks said. "To 
present both sides of the story, that's education. We certainly hope 
the Tulsa Zoo is interested in education."

  Hicks proposed that the Bible verse of Genesis - the Christian story 
of creationism - should be told at the zoo through a story board, 
said Ross Weller, acting park and recreation director.

  Instead, an amended motion, which will include other cultural 
explanations, passed, 3-1, after 27 speakers and 2_ hours.

  Kim MacLeod, spokesman for Mayor Bill LaFortune, said Hicks, not 
taxpayers, will pay for the new exhibits. She said LaFortune, who 
voted for the motion, thinks it's fair to include other religious 
views.

  "The doors have already been opened for religious symbols because of 
these other exhibits that are based on different cultures or 
religions," she said.

  A disclaimer that there are many religious beliefs on how the world 
was created will accompany the new exhibits, MacLeod said. She said 
Hicks has tried unsuccessfully to make changes at the zoo in the past.

Michael Camfield, development director for the American Civil 
Liberties Union of Oklahoma, questioned why any religious viewpoints 
are being expressed at a city-run zoo.

  "We don't believe that it's an important use of government funds," he said.

  Dale McNamara, the board member who voted against constructing a 
creation timeline, said she remembers going to the zoo to look at the 
animals and their surroundings.

"I feel that religion should stay in the church and not at a zoo 
where the zoo is meant to teach everyone about all the different 
cultures and the animals," she said.

  Marnie Ducato, spokeswoman for the zoo, said the elephant's purpose 
was not religious.

"It's strictly put out there in reference of the culture of where the 
elephants are from," Ducato said.


-- 
Martin Weiss, Ph.D
Vice President, Science
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111 th Street
Corona, New York 11368
718 699 0005 x 356

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