Background Links regarding Breakdown of an Anti-Science, Science Teacher

[xocet]

An earlier claim from August 10, 2006 by a Ray Shelton against the theory of global climate change is made here. An excerpt follows:

"Global warming, like President Thomas Jefferson having children with a slave, and intelligent design as science, is one of three greatest hoaxes of the last decade.
Thus, it is embarrassing to see an educator repeating the myth of global warming ("Science versus politics," Education Matters, July 28).
...
The religion of environmentalism, whose singular goal is to stop human progress, has taken over most of the media and certainly most of education."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other earlier reader commentary (by Steve Mills, Glendale on May 12, 2003 about halfway down the linked page) that may or may not be about the same Ray Shelton, but may explain his ideological background:

"Atlas shrugged, and Shelton fell to the ground Stanton Price, in his April 29 tongue-in-cheek letter, hypothesized that Ray Shelton is a fictitious character created by the News-Press to generate more letters to the Community Forum. It is probably true that Shelton has produced more response than any News Press columnists. I must sadly report, however, that I know for a fact that Shelton does exist. The next day, April 30, Shelton outdid himself, writing a letter that was ostensibly about the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. Most of this letter, however, raged against Christianity
and altruism, and extolled the virtues of selfishness. This letter confirmed what I have long suspected about Shelton -- by all appearances, he is a follower of Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism.
...
The purpose of democracy is not to preserve the philosophy of the past, but for the living to determine their own destiny."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The comment made on April 29, 2003 by Stanton J. Price of Glendale is published here. An excerpt follows:

"I have come to the conclusion that Ray Shelton is a fictional character created by the News-Press to generate more letters to the editor. Certainly, no living human being could be as ignorant of the world around him and its history as Ray Shelton appears to be.
...
And like Mary Worth, Ray Shelton has outlived his usefulness, if he ever had any, and should be retired to wherever it is that unneeded cartoon characters go. I'm sure the News-Press will continue to get letters without him."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This Ray Shelton's aforementioned comment from April 30, 2003 is here. An excerpt follows:

"Pat Todd continues to be among those who miss the point regarding getting God out of the public square. Individual rights and the separation of church and state are always "divisive" to those who reject the foundations of our liberty. So be it. Name calling won't silence true Americans who believe in the founding principles of our country. "Under God" does not belong in our pledge. And it is un-American to think that it does belong there.
...
Altruism is the doctrine that only those acts that benefit others are moral -- service to others is the heart of a moral life. Helping an elderly woman cross the street is a moral act. Being on time for work every day isn't. Donating to a charity is moral. Saving for a down payment on a house isn't.
America is founded upon "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" -- one's own life, one's own liberty, and one's own happiness. The moral man is the man who pursues and earns his own way in life. He lives for, and only for, himself. This is egoism -- rational egoism.
...
America is founded upon the pursuit of honestly produced wealth. Getting rich is the American dream and virtue. Both the Virginia and Plymouth colonies were founded by private companies whose purpose was to generate monetary profits. Settlers came primarily for economic freedom. Religion was not an issue. Capitalism is the American system.
...
The religious right and its supporters are not the voice of Americanism. They are the voice of thought control attempting to take over in this country and pervert and undo the actual American Revolution."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is one last excerpt of a comment from June 1, 2004 by a Ray Shelton:

"Coyotes have no rights; animals have no rights. Earth Day approaches, and with it a grave danger faces mankind. The danger is not from acid rain, global warming, smog, or the logging of rain forests, as environmentalists would have us believe. The danger to mankind is from environmentalism. The fundamental goal of environmentalism is not clean air and clean water; rather, it is the demolition of technological/industrial civilization. Environmentalism's goal is not the advancement of human health, human happiness and human life; rather, it is a subhuman world where "nature" is worshipped like the totem of some primitive religion.
...."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is a huge reservoir of commentary by a Ray Shelton in Glendale News Press archives. Lastly, here is the link back to the original letter to the editor that the original OP mentions.

[kestrel91316]

1. "Ray Shelton" calls environmentalism a religion. I think he must post

right here on DU in the E/E forum, but I won't name him, lol.

[20score]

2. Thanks for this research! K&R