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HI Jonah,

I think you're right on some of your points, though if you ask folks  
that have been married for a long time many will tell you that being  
right isn't always the most important part of maintaining a  
relationship.  I think it's one of our jobs, especially as a  
not-for-profit, to invite and secure participation of the wide and  
varied people outside of the dominant culture.  I'm not suggesting that  
we agree with the person who says that women have more ribs than men.   
And Nancy will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think she is  
either.  I think what we're suggesting is that it is our job to invite  
participation by offering a method of inquiry that is consistent with  
scientific methods, rather than to tell them the 'right' answer.

This job of inviting participation is not an easy one, and it certainly  
becomes much more difficult if we adopt that attitude that we are here  
to 'explain' the world to our audience.

Thanks,

  - Len



**********************************
Len Adams
Origins Project Supervisor
Pacific Science Center
Seattle, WA

206/443-3652
**********************************


On Mar 29, 2005, at 8:29 AM, Jonah Cohen wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
> institutions.
> *********************************************************************** 
> ******
>
> Pardon me, Nancy, but with respect, I must say I'm just not buying a  
> lot of
> your arguments.
>
> Here's why:
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nancy VanBeek [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 5:16 PM
>

> <SNIP>

> The point I've been trying to make in the most long-winded manner  
> imaginable
> is that is that I've been able to gain new insight only because  
> everyone has
> told me their opinions frankly, as I've tried to do here. If you had  
> been
> overly concerned about excluding my opinion by voicing your own, I  
> wouldn't
> have gained from your insight, and we owe our visitors the same
> forthrightness.
>
> And if you think my view is full of it, by all means say so. I might  
> learn
> something.
>
> Jonah Cohen
> Outreach & Public Programs Manager
> Science Center of Connecticut
>
> "God grant me the company of those who seek the truth, and God deliver  
> me
> from those who have found it."

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