ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions. ***************************************************************************** I see the point that Peter is trying to make. But I have to disagree with the "ignore them and they'll go away" strategy. The right-wing religious faction that is pushing an anti-evolution agenda is not some fringe movement. They're politically and financially very powerful and well organized. I can't believe that science centers taking a stand against them would grant them more legitimacy than the sympathetic statements they've gotten from U.S. Senators. I only wish we were that powerful. Jonah Cohen Outreach & Public Programs Manager Science Center of Connecticut "If you hear only one song this year, there's something terribly wrong with you." -They Might Be Giants -----Original Message----- From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 3:08 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: science and evolution statement ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions. **************************************************************************** * Colleagues: As the former project director of Man: A Course of Study I have followed this discussion with considerable interest, but I wonder why science museum folks feel that it is necessary to draft statements defending science. Aren't you giving the Creationists just the visibility that they seek? The whole strategy of the Creationists and the Religious Right is to try to get people who believe in rational discourse to engage in a dialogue with them -- not to achieve understanding but to create a public platform where they can express their dogmatic beliefs. Turning a science museum into a forum for such debates only denegrates science. Why not ignore this nonsense and press on with your good work. Truth reveals itself to each of us in its own sweet way, and I have never met anyone who has a corner on it. Peter Dow *********************************************************************** More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org. To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to [log in to unmask] *********************************************************************** More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org. To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to [log in to unmask]