The Smithsonian responds to my outrage regarding showing the Christian fundie movie, The Privileged Planet:
The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History recently approved a request by the Discovery Institute to hold a private, invitation only screening and reception at the Museum on June 23 for the film “The Privileged Planet.” Upon further review we have determined that the content of the film is not consistent with the mission of the Smithsonian Institution's scientific research. Neither the Smithsonian Institution nor the National Museum of Natural History supports or endorses the views of the Discovery Institute or the film “The Privileged Planet.” Given that the Discovery Institute has already issued invitations, we will honor the commitment made to provide space for the event, but will not participate or accept a donation for it.
Small victories are still victories.
Nice job, Seth!
thanks Sage, but I didn't really do much, just wrote a muddle-headed, early morning email, which apparently was one of many. Still, glad to have been part of the 'forces for good'. Ahem.
Now anti-evolutionary, pro-theocratic Congressman Mark Souder http://souder.house.gov/Multimedia/
is coming to the Discovery Inst.'s rescue. He's sent a letter to the Smithsonian asking for why it dumped its "co-sponsorship" (which the DI trumped up) of the screening.
And so, it begins. The SI, the last bastion of government funded, yet still largely independent, scientific research is about to fall to the theocrats.