Re: [asa] More on the Darwin-Hitler link

On 8/24/06, Randy Isaac <randyisaac@adelphia.net> wrote:
>
> And that was followed by this release tonight:
> http://www.coralridge.org/specialdocs/PR_CRMRejectsADLAttack.htm
>
> Randy
>

Hmm. According to the person who e-mailed Dr. Collins:

He made it clear that that Kennedy was misusing an interview he (Collins)
> gave about his book a while back, that Kennedy's broadcast was news to him,
> and that he was taking steps to get Kennedy to bugger off using his name.
>

Now to the latest from Coral Ridge:

The ADL, in a release <http://www.adl.org/PresRele/HolNa_52/4877_52.htm> on
> Tuesday, "denounced Coral Ridge Ministries for misleading Dr. Francis
> Collins, the director of the National Human Genome Research Institute for
> the NIH, and wrongfully using him as part of its twisted documentary, *Darwin's
> Deadly Legacy*." In addition, Dr. Collins reportedly told the ADL that he
> "had NO knowledge that Coral Ridge Ministries was planning a TV special on
> Darwin and Hitler."
>
> The ADL and Dr. Collins are both wrong. A producer told Dr. Collins in
> person before the interview began that he was being interviewed for a
> program that would address the adverse social consequences of Darwin. In
> addition, he was asked specifically, during the interview, about the
> Darwin-Hitler connection and responded on tape that he did not agree with
> that view. Dr. Collins also signed a Talent Release, which gives Coral Ridge
> Ministries the right to use his interview "without limitation in all
> perpetuity."
>

Given it was a while back maybe Dr. Collins forgot the producer's comments
about the "adverse social consequences of Darwin" -- note not about Hitler.
Dr. Collins denied the main thesis on tape and presumably was provided for
balance. Let's go back to the original promotional material:

This 60 minute special featuring Richard Weikart, author of From Darwin to
> Hitler, Lee Strobel, author of The Case for a Creator; Jonathan Wells,
> author of Icons of Evolution; Phillip Johnson, author of Darwin on Trial;
> Michael Behe, author of Darwin's Black Box; Ian Taylor, author of In the
> Minds of Men, and Francis Collins, Director of the Human Genome Project will
> show why evolution is a bad idea that should be discarded into the dustbin
> of history.

The clear implication is Dr. Collins is advancing the main thesis and not
denying it. So, even if we accept Coral Ridge's version of the facts it
cannot be said they did not misuse him and they should have apologized for
that. But even this seems to be a stretch given the following e-mail from
Michael Behe:

Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 15:39:09 -0400
From: Michael Behe
To: Andrew Arensburger
Subject: Re: Darwin's Deadly Legacy

Hello, Mr. Arensburger, nice to meet you.

Andrew Arensburger wrote:

> Dear Dr. Behe,
>
> I see that you are listed as one of the experts who will
>appear on D. James Kennedy's upcoming program, "Darwin's Deadly
>Legacy" which, judging by the preview, claims that there is no
>evidence for evolution, and that Darwin's theories directly led to the
>Holocaust.
> As I understand it, from reading "Darwin's Black Box" and your
>testimony at the Dover trial, you do not disagree with the evidence
>for evolution, natural selection, or common descent, but merely claim
>that something else must be involved, that natural selection is not
>sufficient to explain certain features of living beings.
>
>

Yes, you are right about my thinking.

> In light of this, and that Dr. Collins of the Human Genome
>Project has asked to be disassociated with this program, I was
>wondering whether you could comment on your association with it.
>
>

I'm "associated" with it only in the sense that a clip of my appearance
on a TV show of Dr. Kennedy's from years ago apparently is used in the
film. I didn't know this program was in the works, have had no
conversations with anyone from Coral Ridge about it, and had no input
into it.

Best wishes.

Mike Behe

> I see that you are still listed as an expert to appear on the
>program, at
>http://www.coralridge.org/darwin/experts.asp
>I've also looked at your web page at Lehigh, ID the Future, and
>Evolution News & Views, but haven't found anything.
>
> Thank you,
>
>

Given this it seems that Dr. Collins' version of the facts seem more likely.
Note also that when they quoted Dr. Collins they turned a comma into a
period and they did not indicate so with an ellipsis:

Here's the original quote:

Dr. Collins said he is "absolutely appalled by what Coral Ridge Ministries
> is doing. I had NO knowledge that Coral Ridge Ministries was planning a TV
> special on Darwin and Hitler, and I find the thesis of Dr. Kennedy's program
> utterly misguided and inflammatory," he told ADL.

Here's how it is quoted by Coral Ridge:

In addition, Dr. Collins reportedly told the ADL that he "had NO knowledge
> that Coral Ridge Ministries was planning a TV special on Darwin and Hitler."

Coral Ridge noted that they spoken with Dr. Collins, yet they say he
"reportedly" said something. They could have found out if the quote was
accurate. In my opinion, they still owe Dr. Collins an apology.

To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with
"unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) as the body of the message.
Received on Thu Aug 24 23:32:32 2006