Since there has been some comment to the effect of, "What does this have 
to do with museums?", I thought I might chime in (again?). Part of our 
museum's charge is natural history, and this implies science, and 
science in terms of biology and much of geology means evolution as a 
central anchor. (Rememer Dobshansky's "Nothing in biology makes sense 
except in the light of evolution"? [close if not entirely accurate quote].)

More to the point, part of our outreach is a daily, brief, local PBS 
radio spot (Desert Diaries on KTEP), with the transcript and additional 
material also appearing on our web pages 
(http://museum.utep.edu/archive/ddframe1.htm). Needless to say, numerous 
of our presentations present evolutionary subjects, and attitudes, 
questions, and controveries over evolution are integral to our museum scene.

Art Harris


Laboratory for Environmental Biology, Centennial Museum
University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX  79968-0915
[log in to unmask]   http://museum.utep.edu/
http://museum.utep.edu/chih/chihdes.htm

Stephen Nowlin wrote:
> On 8/4/05 12:15 PM, Rebecca Fitzgerald's electrons arrived as:
> 
> 
>>The statement below that "we are slowly edging towards becoming the
>>Christian equivalent of the fundamentalist Muslim state" is really
>>irresponsible - and I (and I'm sure many others) on this list are offended
>>by it. We are not going to solve the evolution/ID/creationism issue in this
>>forum. We are all somehow affiliated with museums, and it is up to the
>>museums' boards of directors to determine how the issue plays out in our
>>institutions. So, I suggest that future discussion of this topic be
>>continued off list, unless there is actually a real query for the group that
>>is somehow related to this topic.
> 
> 
> I imagine there are a number of means by which a nation could transform from
> one type of government into another, and no doubt there is always a period
> during such transformation where the country could be described as having
> "slowly edged" in a certain direction.  So, if the U.S were going to change
> from being a secular democracy into some Christian fundamentalist-leaning
> variation thereof, I have to wonder what that process might look like in its
> early stages -- perhaps a leader whose legislative agenda appeases
> fundamentalist voting blocs, who describes Christ as the "political
> philosopher" he most admires, who holds regular Bible studies in the White
> House, and whose actions intentionally or not empower religious zealots to
> exert an increasing influence over the shape of governance at all social
> levels.  
> 
> History provides countless examples to confirm the inherent fragility of
> even the most seemingly secure forms of government, so I find Sasha's
> speculation about the possible consequences of our nation's change under its
> present administration to be, while certainly opinionated, not in any way
> "irresponsible" or offensive.
> 
> What I do find disturbing is the implication that museum staff should look
> to a board of directors for guidance on questions that fall simply and
> clearly into the realm of scholarship.  This entire discussion of evolution
> and intelligent design on museum-l is valid because it relates to how
> curators, not boards, present the public with a clear and informed
> understanding of science and evolution when that museum's exhibits engage
> such content.  This, like any decision about history, research, and the
> accuracy of information to be disseminated through the portal of a museum,
> should rely on curatorial independence and expertise, not on the higher
> governance apparatus of the institution.
> 
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