Intelligent design film at Smithsonian Institution

This is being forwarded for your info.

~Dick

> IMPORTANT NOTICE
>
> (This item has been inserted into an already-active web page because it
> involves a critical matter. I urge our readers to take action.)
>
> Reader Isabelle Vella Gregory, a student in Archaeology at the
> University of Cambridge, is alarmed — and rightly so — at this
development:
>
> The Smithsonian has gone absolutely insane. They are airing a movie on
> "Intelligent Design" in return for a donation of $16,000 from the
> Discovery Institute. Worse, they are claiming this money will help them
> fund science research. See
> www.nytimes.com/2005/05/28/national/28smithsonian.html
>
> I have just sent the following email to the dear people at the
> Smithsonian. I intend on being a major pain until they give up this
> nonsense:
>
> Subject: Declining standards at the Smithsonian
>
> Dear Sir/Madam
>
> I am writing to you with reference to the Smithsonian's
> decision to air the Discovery Institute's film on Intelligent Design. I
> have always believed that the Smithsonian is one of the foremost
> institutions of learning, a bastion for science, and a public
> institution. Your mission statement clearly states that you want to
> promote "innovation, research and discovery in science." It is thus
> impossible to comprehend why you have chosen to air a film on ID. This
> volte face from your side undermines not only the way you have
> consistently chosen to present the past and scientific discoveries, but
> also your very integrity.
>
> What is even more appalling is that one of your spokespersons
> has been quoted as saying:
>
> The event should not be taken as support for the views
> expressed in the film. It is incorrect for anyone to infer that we are
> somehow endorsing the video or the content of the video.
>
> I do not think you could be more incorrect if you tried. You
> know perfectly well that a museum's raison d'être is extremely apparent
> in the way it displays its material and the activities it organizes.
> That you would sell your integrity for $16,000 dollars is not merely
> incomprehensible but also shameful.
>
> I do hope that after your short sightedness you realized that
> your actions will be taken to mean support for the ID movement. This,
> after many court battles to keep creationism and ID out of science
> class, do you not realize that you have also done a major disservice to
> the parents, educators and scientists who have fought tirelessly against
> this nonsense? Do you not realize that if ID had anything scientific to
> say they would publish their "findings" in peer reviewed journals? Is it
> possible that the eminent museum has no biologists to point out that ID
> is merely religious apologetics?
>
> Please do not treat us with contempt and mumble that you will
> use the money for scientific research. You have just dealt science (and
> your public) an underhanded, unwarranted blow. I wish you luck in
> dealing with the backlash.
>
> We need to be alarmed and militant about this situation. The "Discovery
> Institute" is the center of the Intelligent Design movement, which is
> only a semantically-disguised support group for creationism. By donating
> a mere $16,000, it has purchased the use of the Smithsonian facilities
> along with their implied co-sponsorship of the film, "The Privileged
> Planet: The Search for Purpose in the Universe."
>
> The Smithsonian Institution has a space-use policy that precludes
> certain forms of religious presentations, regardless of donations that
> might be offered. Yet it welcomes the opportunity to sponsor this
> blatant "Intelligent Design" propaganda? The disclaimer that Ms. Gregory
> cites above will do nothing to nullify the damage done by the Smithsonian.
>
> Though we cannot imagine what political external or internal pressure
> was brought to bear on the Smithsonian to trigger this incredible
> blunder, we can count on the creationists now crowing about validation
> from one of the world's most trusted scientific authorities. If James
> Smithson were alive today, judging from what he wrote in his diaries and
> letters, I believe he would want his money refunded upon hearing of this
> travesty...
>
> Readers, do something about this. Please send an e-mail to giving@si.edu
> addressed to Mr. Randall Kremer, Public Affairs. Tell him of your
> concern over this situation. And, you might add that the JREF is willing
> to donate $20,000 to the Smithsonian Institution if they agree to give
> back the "Discovery Institute" $16,000 and decline to sponsor the
> showing of the film. And the JREF will not require the Smithsonian to
> run any films or propaganda that favor our point of view...
Received on Mon May 30 21:49:00 2005