Benjamin D. Bridges Sr. (born August 30, 1940, in Ila, Madison County, Georgia)[1] is a former Republican politician and one-time member of the Georgia House of Representatives. Bridges represented Georgia's 9th (1997-2001), then 7th (2001–2003), and then 10th (2003-2009) districts, based about the city of Cleveland, between 1997 and 2009.[1] He was chairman of the House Retirement Committee, and was replaced as the 10th district's representative by fellow Republican Rick Austin in 2008.
Born in 1940, Bridges graduated from high school in 1959 and received a barber license in 1960.[2] He worked as a barber for six years before joining the Georgia State Patrol in 1966. He retired in 1995 with the rank of captain, and was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1997. He served in the House until 2008.
2007 anti-evolution controversyedit
In February 2007, Bridges was criticized by the Anti-Defamation League and others for circulating a memo condemning evolution and heliocentrism in the Georgia legislature. The memo claimed that:
Indisputable evidence – long hidden but now available to everyone – demonstrates conclusively that so-called 'secular evolution science' is the Big-Bang 15-billion-year alternate 'creation scenario' of the Pharisee Religion...This scenario is derived concept-for-concept from Rabbinic writings in the mystic 'holy book' Kabbala dating back at least two millennia.[3]
The memo also directed readers to the website of the young Earth creationist Fair Education Foundation, which claims the Earth is not rotating or orbiting the Sun, and denies the existence of any stars or exoplanets outside the solar system.[4] Marshall Hall (1931–2013),[4] the memo's author and the founder of the Fair Education Foundation, was the husband of Bridges' longtime campaign manager, Bonnie Hall.[3]
Bridges claimed he had nothing to do with the memo, but Hall stated that he had Bridges' approval. Bridges said he did not necessarily disagree with Hall's viewpoint; he was quoted as saying, "I agree with it more than I would the Big Bang Theory or the Darwin Theory".[5] Bridges' memo was later circulated in the Texas legislature by the conservative Republican Warren Chisum of Pampa, the seat of Gray County in the Texas Panhandle.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abBen Bridges Sr. VoteSmart.org. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
^Official Profile: Georgia (GA) State Representative Ben Bridges Sr., GA House of Representatives May 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. FreedomSpeaks.com. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
^ abc"The Warren Chisum-Ben Bridges Memo Controversy" May 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Texas Citizens for Science. February 16, 2007. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
^ abThe Earth Is Not Moving. Fair Education Foundation. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
^Jeremy Redmon. "Anti-evolution memo stirs controversy". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. February 15, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
External linksedit
Voting record (2006–2008) on VoteSmart
Fair Education Foundation website
December 15, 2023
benjamin, bridges, benjamin, bridges, born, august, 1940, madison, county, georgia, former, republican, politician, time, member, georgia, house, representatives, bridges, represented, georgia, 1997, 2001, then, 2001, 2003, then, 10th, 2003, 2009, districts, b. Benjamin D Bridges Sr born August 30 1940 in Ila Madison County Georgia 1 is a former Republican politician and one time member of the Georgia House of Representatives Bridges represented Georgia s 9th 1997 2001 then 7th 2001 2003 and then 10th 2003 2009 districts based about the city of Cleveland between 1997 and 2009 1 He was chairman of the House Retirement Committee and was replaced as the 10th district s representative by fellow Republican Rick Austin in 2008 Benjamin D Bridges Sr Member of the Georgia House of Representatives from the 10th districtIn office 1997 2008Succeeded byRick AustinPersonal detailsBorn 1940 08 30 August 30 1940DiedSeptember 1 2022 2022 09 01 aged 82 Hall County GaPolitical partyRepublicanSpouseJeanie BridgesChildren5 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 2007 anti evolution controversy 2 References 3 External linksBiography editBorn in 1940 Bridges graduated from high school in 1959 and received a barber license in 1960 2 He worked as a barber for six years before joining the Georgia State Patrol in 1966 He retired in 1995 with the rank of captain and was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1997 He served in the House until 2008 2007 anti evolution controversy edit In February 2007 Bridges was criticized by the Anti Defamation League and others for circulating a memo condemning evolution and heliocentrism in the Georgia legislature The memo claimed that Indisputable evidence long hidden but now available to everyone demonstrates conclusively that so called secular evolution science is the Big Bang 15 billion year alternate creation scenario of the Pharisee Religion This scenario is derived concept for concept from Rabbinic writings in the mystic holy book Kabbala dating back at least two millennia 3 The memo also directed readers to the website of the young Earth creationist Fair Education Foundation which claims the Earth is not rotating or orbiting the Sun and denies the existence of any stars or exoplanets outside the solar system 4 Marshall Hall 1931 2013 4 the memo s author and the founder of the Fair Education Foundation was the husband of Bridges longtime campaign manager Bonnie Hall 3 Bridges claimed he had nothing to do with the memo but Hall stated that he had Bridges approval Bridges said he did not necessarily disagree with Hall s viewpoint he was quoted as saying I agree with it more than I would the Big Bang Theory or the Darwin Theory 5 Bridges memo was later circulated in the Texas legislature by the conservative Republican Warren Chisum of Pampa the seat of Gray County in the Texas Panhandle 3 References edit a b Ben Bridges Sr VoteSmart org Retrieved June 3 2012 Official Profile Georgia GA State Representative Ben Bridges Sr GA House of Representatives Archived May 18 2012 at the Wayback Machine FreedomSpeaks com Retrieved May 15 2012 a b c The Warren Chisum Ben Bridges Memo Controversy Archived May 16 2012 at the Wayback Machine Texas Citizens for Science February 16 2007 Retrieved May 14 2012 a b The Earth Is Not Moving Fair Education Foundation Retrieved May 18 2013 Jeremy Redmon Anti evolution memo stirs controversy Atlanta Journal Constitution February 15 2007 Retrieved May 18 2013 External links editVoting record 2006 2008 on VoteSmart Fair Education Foundation website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Benjamin Bridges amp oldid 1125924744, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
