The Smithsonian is presenting a movie on the merits of Intelligent Design... for a $16,000 from the Discovery Institute (an organization for the promotion ID):
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/28/national/28smithsonian.html?oref=login The Smithsonian claims that such a showing does not imply endorsement of the content. However the Discovery Institute has, of course, used the opportunity to infer that the film was "co-sponsored" by the museum. Here's part of their statement: "Smithsonian Institution Premiere of The Privileged Planet" "The Director of the National Museum of Natural History and Discovery Institute are happy to announce the national premiere and private evening reception for The Privileged Planet: The Search for Purpose in the Universe, 6pm Thursday June 23, 2005." The film is (no surprise!) a religiously-biased attack on evolution. You can see that with even a casual perusal of its website: http://www.privilegedplanet.com/ The JREF has, as an aside, offered $20,000 (with no strings attached) for the museum NOT to show the film: http://www.randi.org/jr/052705a.html#1a This is clearly just another step in the Discovery Institute's "Wedge" strategy to insert religion into science and curricula. They seek to associate themselves with respected names and institutions in an attempt to build a legitimate fa�ade. They then attempt to get religiously-centered ideology presented as equivalent to scientific theory. It's deeply troubling that the Smithsonian's name and reputation can simply be bought outright (and for so little). The National Museum of Natural History is clearly an organization that defends the scientific validity and worth of evolutionary theory. It's mind-shattering how easily such a pedigree for integrity is laid aside. Jim Davis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:159134 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
