Free exchange of ideas is fine and appropriate and there are 
appropriate forums (e.g, scientific journals). Is there going to be a 
free an open exchange of ideas at the Discovery Institute "event"? I 
suspect not, as they would argue it is inappropriate ("We paid for 
the evening"!). Nor is there an open and free discussion of faith 
based explanations  of evolution in the hall so the natural history 
museum, because it is inappropriate to the mission of the museum.

Martin


>I posted these during the related discussions in late January, and I 
>think they remain apropos now.  I don't think anybody need fear 
>exposure to ideas with which they disagree, if we believe the truth 
>will assert itself in the end.
>
>"That differences of opinion should arise among men on politics, on 
>religion and on every other topic of human inquiry, and that these 
>should be freely expressed in a country where all our faculties are 
>free, is to be expected. But these valuable privileges are much 
>perverted when permitted to disturb the harmony of social 
>intercourse, and to lessen the tolerance of opinion." --Thomas 
>Jefferson: Reply to Citizens of Washington, 1809.
>
>"I am myself an empiric in natural philosophy, suffering my faith to 
>go no further than my facts. I am pleased, however, to see the 
>efforts of hypothetical speculation, because by the collisions of 
>different hypotheses, truth may be elicited and science advanced in 
>the end." --Thomas Jefferson to George P. Hopkins, 1822.
>
>"In every country where man is free to think and to speak, 
>differences of opinion will arise from difference of perception, and 
>the imperfection of reason; but these differences when permitted, as 
>in this happy country, to purify themselves by free discussion, are 
>but as passing clouds overspreading our land transiently and leaving 
>our horizon more bright and serene." --Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin 
>Waring, 1801.
>
>--Eric
>
>Eric D. M. Johnson
>Proprietor
>The Village Factsmith Historical Research & Consulting
>http://www.factsmith.com/
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>
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