About Me

Name: D W W...
Email: dwwrobertson@hotmail.com Biography
Loading...

Create Your Own Blog Find Other Townhall Blogs

Comments

Blog Roll

 

Expelled: Critics miss the point. It's the free exchange of ideas.

Posted by D W W Robertson on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 2:33:31 PM
This user represents many of the comments I’ve been reading in response to Ben Stein’s movie Expelled. It is so obvious that people are missing the whole point of the movie. Featured User comment on imdb.com from m0laria@gmail.com:

Completely inaccurate. Equates scientists to Nazis. Doesn't even explain what Intelligent Design is, or offer one single opposing theory to evolution. Only interviews scientists who also happen to be Atheist, for obvious reasons of generating a false argument that evolution must lead to atheism.

The movie did not purport to prove that intelligent design is the best alternative theory to Darwinism. It is not an argument that intelligent design should be taught in the class room.

The movie does expose that Darwinists do not have all the answers that they claim to have. Furthermore, Stein argues that evolution should not have to lead to atheism as these prominent scientists argue. It is not the other way around. Stein interviews these scientists because the are prominent and they believe that atheism is supported by evolutionary theory, not because Stein believes that evolution leads to atheism.

The whole point? The academic enterprise is undermined by a refusal to be honest about Darwinism’s weaknesses and most importantly that the freedom to criticize any idea in the classroom is a crucial element for progress in learning. The universities should be the forefront in the marketplace of ideas. They have become dens of intolerance where criticism is silenced by those in authority.
 
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

UC Davis students show hope for freedom of thought!

Posted by D W W Robertson on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 2:05:03 PM
I drove down to UC Davis on Saturday, April 19 for the 2008 Picnic Day to ask some of the students about their response to Ben Stein’s movie Expelled. I was surprised to get a good response. Here are some of the answers people gave.

1. Will you go see Expelled?

- Yes. Now that I know about it. It sounds interesting.

- No. Movies cost too much. Ben Stein should make a documentary about that.

- No. I don’t care.

2. Should we be able to critique Darwinism in the science classroom?

- Yes. We should be able to critique every idea. That is what education is all about.

- Yes. Darwinism is false, f**k.

- I don’t care.

3. Does it undermine our educational system to prohibit criticism of Darwinism?

- Yes. But you have to take everything at the university with a grain of salt.

- I don’t care. I already graduated.

- I don’t care.

4. Does Expelled bring up an important issue, worthy of discussion?

- Yes. It sounds interesting and worth investigation.

- Yeah, whatever. What do you expect from colleges?

College students are not as crazy, intolerant, and free-speech hating as we sometimes make them out to be. I was glad to hear that students were concerned with freedom to criticize “any idea” in the classroom. The problem is that usually the most close-minded are the ones with the loudest mouths – to paraphrase Less Than Jake.

Rest assured America, there is hope for the next generation!

Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive
« Previous1Next »