Monday, May 05, 2008
Unintelligent designs on evolutionary theory
Steve Huff
Recent columns
About halfway through Ben Stein's documentary "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," I was distracted by a pimply theater employee who appeared on the landing below. I looked away, trying to focus on Stein's quizzical, unassuming narration.
I like Ben Stein. I still quote him from "Ferris Beuller's Day Off." His game show "Win Ben Stein's Money" was one of the few I've watched over the past 20 years. His commentaries, while far to the right of mine, are varied, amusing and provocative. This film was Stein's exploration of the plight of intelligent design against mainstream evolution science.
But now the theater employee was making his way down my row. Was there a problem? Someone having a heart attack? How did he know I was a doctor? Uh-oh. Must be my kids, down the hall at another movie.
"Are you enjoying the show, sir?" he asked.
Was I enjoying the show? That's it?
I had to think about it. On the one hand, I had laid claim to my favorite seat (middle of the row, two thirds back). I had 90 minutes to myself. Popcorn in hand, Milk Duds in reserve, life was pretty good.
On the other hand, I was having some trouble with the presentation.
Ben Stein was faking his earnestness.
Clad in a frumpy suit and tan sneakers, he pads around downtown Seattle, interrupting pedestrians and café diners to see if they know where the Discovery Institute is. Flipping maps one way and the other, shrugging his shoulders, throwing up his arms, he finally stumbles upon the shabby office on the eighth floor of a nondescript building.
As best as I can tell, he is trying to portray the Discovery Institute as an out-of-the-way, modest establishment run by ordinary people who are fighting the good fight in the name of scientific inquiry. He does not unveil the slick Web site (which now features Stein's photo and the section "Expelled Explained"), the Hollywood-grade propaganda films, the hard religious slant and the wealthy donors by which it is known.
I'd say Ben knew exactly where to find the Discovery Institute.
It gets worse.
During interviews, ID proponents appear in daylight, their quotes innocent and balanced. Evolutionists peer out of the shadows, their words tilted and bizarre. Landmark high court rulings against ID are scarcely mentioned. The history of ID, which stems from creation science and the Old Testament, is ignored.
Stein blames evolution theory for the eugenics movement of the early 20th century and for the Holocaust. Images flash on the screen -- barbed wire, guard dogs, piles of dead Jews, Hitler -- to illustrate the oppressiveness of mainstream science. The same creepy music suffuses tours of both Darwin's home and the concentration camp of Dachau.
I hear three messages:
n Intelligent design is a scientific theory superior to Darwin's evolution.
n Mainstream science conspires to suppress ID.
n Evolution theory leads to moral anarchy.
I offer three responses:
n Intelligent design is neither science nor proper theory. Evolution has withstood 150 years of scientific scrutiny and continues to strengthen.
n This "debate" exists only in the minds of those who adhere to the literal word of Genesis. ID was expelled from the halls of science because ID holds no scientific merit.
n Evolution theory is sound regardless of how Hitler used it.
Stein closes the film at the podium of a large, warmly lit theater. Rapt students sit on the edges of their seats. Stein holds forth in professorial tones. As he implores us to break down the walls of science, color footage reveals Ronald Reagan at the Berlin Wall.
As Stein decries those who challenge his goals, we see gray images of Nazi Germany.
As Stein brings his message home the students launch from their seats and cheer madly.
I look around. Where are these people? In this theater of 144 seats, I am alone. It's no wonder that my pimply friend saw fit to stroll in and chat.
It turns out that the raving students in the movie were extras. I'm guessing it was hard to attract enough people truly moved by Stein's drivel. Nevertheless, I suppose he'll make a few dollars and a bunch of friends, preaching to the choir, then passing the plate. I thought he was better than that.
Huff, who lives in Patrick County and practices family medicine, is a columnist for The Roanoke Times.
