Thanks, L.D., for forwarding that newspaper article --

David Haberstich made some excellent points in his posting on this subject, but among them is one with which I don't agree:

"As far as the scheduled event is concerned, some of the messages indicate that people are forgetting that it's a private, invitation-only affair, and the general museum public will know nothing about it--they're not going to think the Smithsonian is endorsing the views expressed by the movie or its sponsoring organization because they will be blissfully unaware--unless, of course, the anti-ID forces raise a sufficiently huge fuss."

The Discovery Institute is largely a marketing initiative posing as a science organization, and you can be sure that while reasonable people downplay the impact of a small private event, the Discovery Institute is more keenly aware of the powerful viral marketing opportunity any association between their organization and the Smithsonian represents.  This small controversy will filter down to a growing and politically powerful force of individuals and groups who want to conflate religion and science, as an unabashed endorsement -- an affirmation of the equality between Evolution and Intelligent Design and the latter's implied acceptance by mainstream science as a viable theory.  It will be used to portray those who disagree as a fringe of disgruntled atheist-scientists out of step with the majority of their colleagues.

For example, see

http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2005/0530Smithsonian.asp

in which those criticizing the Smithsonian screening are characterized as censors obstructing intellectual freedom:

"According to Rob Crowther of Discovery Institute, not all scientists in the film are supporters of intelligent design. 'In a free society, where science itself is free of cant, attempts to censor such programs (or the books they are based on) are inappropriate and usually futile,' he says in a blog posting."

The Smithsonian is a dignified plump old establishment, being deftly exploited by a younger fleet-footed upstart with a bright understanding of marketing and public persuasion.  The science community needs to wake up.


- Stephen Nowlin


-----Original Message-----
From:	Museum discussion list on behalf of L Dewey
Sent:	Thu 6/2/2005 4:52 AM
To:	[log in to unmask]
Cc:	
Subject:	Re: ID Movie at Smithsonian
in regard to the broader socio-political reason the ID film producers 
chose the SI for their premier, do note the following news article from 
Iowa.

as others may have already observed, so-called Intelligent Design is an 
ideological expression of the religious right.

gee, I wonder who runs the Smithsonian?

-L.D.

-------

(From the Ames, Iowa Tribune)

Assistant professor premiers film at Institute

The work of an Iowa State University assistant professor has made its 
way into the Smithsonian Institute.

A 60-minute documentary titled "The Privileged Planet: The Search for 
Purpose in the Universe" will premiere at the Smithsonian's National 
Museum of Natural History on June 23. The film is based on a book 
co-authored by Guillermo Gonzalez, an ISU assistant professor of 
astronomy and physics.

"I am very pleased that it is going to be shown at such an important 
locale," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez's theory in "The Privileged Planet" creates a link between the 
design for life and scientific discovery. The rare qualities that make 
a planet habitable also provide the best overall conditions for 
observing the universe around us, he explains.

For example, the transparency of the atmosphere that allows people to 
see distant stars and galaxies is a result of the high oxygen content 
of the atmosphere, a condition that also is needed for complex life.

The book also discusses how our place in the cosmos is designed for 
discovery, Gonzalez said, noting the way perfect eclipses can be seen 
from earth.

"It's not just a coincidence that there is life on earth and that we 
can observe eclipses," Gonzalez says. "Those two are actually 
intimately linked."

The book was co-authored by Jay Richards, the vice president and a 
senior fellow of the Discovery Institute, a public policy think tank in 
Seattle. Within the institute, Richards works for the Center for 
Science and Culture, a research fellowship program that supports and 
promotes research regarding evidence of design and purpose in the 
universe.

While the theory does argue for intelligent design, it is not an 
argument for or against Darwin's theory of evolution.

"It has absolutely nothing to do with biological evolution," Richards 
said. "We are talking about the things that you need to produce a 
habitable planet, which is a prerequisite for life. It doesn't tell you 
anything about how life got here."

The Smithsonian's co-sponsorship of the film does not mean the museum 
endorses the ideas expressed in the film, according to the Web site. An 
event held at the Smithsonian cannot be a personal event, fund-raising 
event or an event of a religious or partisan political nature, 
according to the Smithsonian's special events policy.

Following the premiere, the documentary is planned to run on Public 
Broadcasting Stations across the country.


-------

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