It’s all over the blogosphere, but a story worth repeating, in case any of my two or three readers missed it. As you may know, there is a new movie about to be released called Expelled. It’s made by creationists and tries to make a free speech case in favor of teaching creationism in schools–presumably in science classes (which makes no sense whatsoever, but what the heck, it’s their movie).
Noted science blogger PZ Myers frequently has harsh words for the anti-evolution crowd and vice versa. He is a biologist and associate professor. When an advance screening of Expelled came to his home state of Minnesota, he went to a Web page where people could sign up to see the film. He was, after all, interviewed and featured in the film. He signed up, using his real name–there was nothing sneaky about it. PZ received a confirmation e-mail explaining that he would not need a ticket for entry. While in line to see the movie yesterday, however, a uniformed security man or police officer told him he would not be allowed in and requested that he leave. He left without a fight, although his wife, daughter, and his friend Richard Dawkins were allowed in. That’s right, they recognized the blogger PZ, but completely missed the famous author, scientist and exponent of evolution, who was also featured in the movie!
Now this is where we can judge people by their words and actions:
Here was a film in which PZ Myers was interviewed–a film with a lot to say about free speech, apparently, yet they wouldn’t let him in. It seems they didn’t want dissenting opinions among their free speech film audience. He was expelled from Expelled.
After the film there was a Q & A session, and PZ’s daughter asked about a movie called “Crossroads.” Both Myers and Dawkins had been asked to be interviewed for a movie by that name, which, they were told, would be an even-handed look at evolution and creationism. Those interviews ended up in the movie they were hiding: Expelled. When challenged about that, the producer responded that if you knew anything about movies, you’d know about “working titles.” “Crossroads” was just a working title, he said. He was lying! It turns out the filmmakers had purchased the Internet domain name, “expelledthemovie.com” at least a month before either of the gentlemen were interviewed. They knew full well what the movie would be called and how it would be framed, but lied to Dawkins and Myers to get them on film. This is how at least some creationist proponents work. They don’t have facts on their side, so they resort to lies and distortion.
A creationist interviewed in the film tries to link evolutionary theory to Hitler. He says Darwinism didn’t cause the Holocaust, but was a necessary condition for the Holocaust to happen.
There you have it. Evolutionary theory allowed Hitler and Nazism to happen. Creationist bloggers, meanwhile are calling PZ and Dawkins gatecrashers, even though they got to the film in same way everyone else did, through the Web site sign up.
dangblog 