"U.S. Radicals"

Here's an important news story, and one that contains some important and disturbing information--but look at the way in which AFP wire service has used derogatory and I would even say misleading language:

US radicals blow their tops over volcano movie as Darwinism debate rages

Pressure from ultraconservative religious groups has prompted some theaters equipped with the high quality panoramic IMAX screens to cancel showings of several movies which refer to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

Some politically powerful religious groups dismiss the theory, despite its widespread acceptance throughout the rest of the world.

"Radicals"? "Ultraconservative"? My experience is that Creationists are generally not really any more conservative (in a political sense) than the rest of the population. In any case, these terms are quite derogatory.

Even worse, the actual content of the news story doesn't fit this lead:

Since the beginning of this year, numerous movie theaters in highly religious states in the US south have refused to show documentary films like "Cosmic Voyage," "Volcanos of the Deep Sea" and "Galapagos" named after the islands Darwin used to showcase his theory.

The films crimes? Mentioning the idea that the Universe is the product of a "Big Bang" explosion or that the origin of life is in the oceans.

"Volcanos of the Deep Sea" has prompted some radical religious conservatives to blow their own tops.

...

Earlier this year, the Museum of Science and History of Fort Worth, Texas, refused to show the volcano film after a screening for a test audience.

"At the time, we had better choices that scored better in our screening tests," said Margaret Ritsch, the museum's Director of Public Affairs.

She admitted, however, that some people had made comments about the theory of evolution.

Maybe there are "ultraconservative" organizations behind this, but the news story doesn't report that. It suggests that the Museum of Science and History responded to test audience dislike--some of which included Creationist criticism.

Blocking scientific movies from IMAX theaters is only one part of the creationists' agenda; they also promote their own films that document their theory of a cosmos-crafting higher intelligence.

"The Privileged Planet: The Search for Purpose in the Universe," is one such film, based on work by University of Iowa astronomy professor Guillermo Gonzalez.

Stirring outrage from the scientific community, the Museum of Natural History at Washington's world-famed Smithsonian Institution agreed to show the movie.

Ah, so evolutionists are upset that their point of view is not being shown in some IMAX theaters (and I agree that this is wrong), but they are upset that an opposing point of view is being shown at the Museum of Natural History.

One of the signs that you don't really believe that your position is strong enough to win the debate is that you don't want the other side's position given an equal opportunity. I would love for all sides (atheistic evolutionists; theistic evolutionists; Young Earthers; Old Earther Creationists; Intelligent Design advocates) to participate. I don't expect that a fair and open debate is going to win many people to the Young Earth position. I think that the Intelligent Design advocates will persuade many people to avoid getting too arrogantly certain about atheistic evolution. Above all, all sides need to recognize the importance of remaining open to careful examination of their assumptions, and the value of serious and intelligent criticism.