In a message dated 5/31/2005 5:48:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< Perhaps the National Museum of American
 History would provide the appropriate venue, in that case, not the National
 Museum of Natural History which unequivocally recognizes the  the
 scientific method for the proving of theories.  >>

Let me begin by saying I'm not singling out this quote to offer a specific 
argument.  I was just searching through all the messages on this topic to find a 
convenient point of departure.  And, although I work at the Smithsonian, this 
isn't a hot topic of discussion in my circle--in fact, I've heard zilch about 
it at the Smithsonian.  As in many areas, all I know is what I read on 
Museum-L!

I no longer know what's "appropriate" for the Museum of Natural History.  
After all, not too long ago they hosted a major exhibition on baseball--how 
"scientific" was that?!!  Precedent for "inappropriate" programs has already been 
set.  The ID movie event may well turn out to be a major PR gaffe, since 
perception certainly is important--or perhaps a lot of people are making a bigger 
deal out of it than it really is, and perhaps generating controversy is 
precisely what the ID group has as part of its agenda.  Perhaps they hope to provoke 
scientists and defenders of the evolution establishment (if you will) into 
sounding intolerant of competing ideas.  Just a thought.  

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.

I'm wondering (and I'll have to inform myself, since I'm truly writing out of 
ignorance) if the money accompanying this event is really a "donation."  The 
program has the earmarks of a rental of the facility rather than a donation.  
I would guess that it's going to be held in the evening, after the museum 
closes to the public, and may be accompanied by a reception for the invited 
guests.  If so, programs of a similar format happen all the time, and occurred long 
before the current Smithsonian administration, with its aggressive emphasis on 
fund-raising, came into power.  

On one hand, any museum needs to be careful about the outside "sponsored" 
events and programs it allows to use its facilities, and it needs to be cautious 
about the donations it accepts and the strings that may be attached, lest such 
acceptances be perceived as endorsements.  On the other, misperceptions can 
easily be blown out of proportion.  And I really don't know what 
"co-sponsorship" means, especially in this case, since co-sponsorship certainly would seem 
to imply at least a limited stamp of approval.  It might be safer just to 
"rent" space to any and all, without regard to agenda, ideology, or 
appropriateness, in a blatant attempt to raise funds--while making a hard distinction between 
that kind of business decision and the programs, exhibitions, etc. which the 
museum wholeheartedly supports and endorses as part of its mission.  To 
"co-sponsor" projects with which the institution disagrees or which it cannot 
endorse is asking for trouble.  

David Haberstich   

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