Essay: Conservapedia - two years on
From Conservapedia
Conservapedia was founded on 21 November 2006 by Andrew Schlafly, a successful engineer, lawyer and educationalist. Concerned by the low quality and questionable moral standards of material on existing online encyclopaedias, he determined to create an educational resource to be used by his thriving homeschool classes. Hence... Conservapedia.
Its aim was, and is, to provide accurate, concise and family-friendly articles on all areas of educational interest, filling a growing need amongst the homeschooling community. It was to be free of the irreligion, unpatriotism and celebration of dissolute celebrity 'culture' that was the hallmark of other sites claiming to be encyclopaedic, and it eschewed their Liberal values and atheistic propagandising.
Conservapaedia began expanding through Andrew Schlafly's valiant efforts, supported by those of his students. But - as one might imagine - it rapidly began to expand beyond even the capacity of those hardworking people. Conservatives from around the globe rallied to this newly-raised standard and began contributing pages. Two years on, Conservapedia is more than a resource for homeschool students. Thanks to its many active and expert editors, inspired by the example of Andrew Schlafly and guided by his wise tutelage, it is a successful online encyclopaedia, growing faster than its rivals, and a respected part of the Conservative intellectual firmament.
This has not been without a struggle. Andrew Schlafly, his senior administrators, and a host of editors have worked hard to make Conservapedia what it is today. But their work has been made harder by the efforts of frustrated and embittered Liberals to destroy the project. Enraged by the expression of views inimical to their own, they have launched wave after wave of attacks on the encyclopaedia, all beaten off by watchfulness, dedication, hard work, and intelligence. The struggle for truth and freedom continues daily, and the Liberals and atheists continue in their twenty-first century equivalent of the Nazi book-burning campaigns of the 1930s.
But as well as building up a great resource in the face of Liberal and atheist assault and insult, Conservapedia has succeeded in taking the fight to the enemy. Making an honoured place for himself in the ranks of Conservative thinkers, Andrew Schlafly gained lasting renown in 2008 by his successful debunking of the so-called 'proofs' of the theory of evolution being trumpeted by Richard Lenski. His debates with Lenski, and the subsequent attempt by PNAS to suppress news of these events, have been a highlight of the past twelve months.
More disturbingly, the results of the recent United States Presidential Election have placed a huge question mark over the future of the United States and the free world. Here, too, Conservapedia has played a part in attempting to save America from potentially catastrophic error. While the Liberal media elite skewed its electoral coverage unforgiveably for the media of a democracy, Conservapedia provided a still, small voice pointing out in a calm and objective manner the grievous shortcomings of, and unanswered questions regarding Senator Obama; and it will continue to do so despite his flawed victory.
While the future of the United States and the wider world is clouded in uncertainty, one thing is sure. Conservapedia will march from strength to strength. Emboldened by our successes, heartened by the spirit of fraternity that is embodied in our administrators and editors and that embraces all sincere new members who are attracted to our crusade for truth and learning, and inspired by the leadership of Andrew Schlafly, Conservapedia will go forward and bring the light and truth of God to more and more who seek clear and unbiased knowledge. The truth will set you free!
