Report on KU Speech — The Panda's Thumb (Legacy Archive)

Last Tuesday, September 28, 2004, about 300 people attended my speech “Kansas Science Standards 2004: Will It Be 1999 All Over Again?”, sponsored by the Chancellor’s Office and all the natural science departments at the University of Kansas. Generally the audience was supportive and appreciative, although a few ID advocates and supporters were there (including Intelligent Design managing director John Calvert.)

If you are interested, links to some materials, including mp3’s of the speech, are on the Kansas Citizens for Science website www.kcfs.org. Even if you aren’t particularly interested in Kansas, much of this talk is pertinent to anyone interested in the ID movement.

1) The Powerpoint presentation is here.

2) A Word version of the Powerpoint text, with cues to the mp3 files is here. This is a more useful (and much smaller) document.

3) The speech itself is separated into a small mp3 files corresponding to the Powerpoint presentation, which you can either listen to directly or download to listen to consecutively later. I recommend listening while following the Word document. The files are all here.

The reaction by the IDists was strong - perhaps even a little over-the-top.

13 Comments

Wesley R. Elsberry · 3 October 2004

Comparisons to the KKK aren't "over-the-top"; they are odious. It's usage of invidious comparisons, and its only purpose is to play on emotions.

Of course, ID advocates commonly use invidious comparisons, probably because when it comes to evidence and scientific backing, playing with listener's emotions is about all they've got to work with.

Jack Krebs · 3 October 2004

Thanks, Wesley. I see that Calvert's reference to Kansas Citizens for Science being like Nazi stormtroopers is already on your site - perhaps you can add htis one about the KKK for the record.

Wesley R. Elsberry · 3 October 2004

Nick did just that a couple of days ago. It's on page three of the thread.

http://www.antievolution.org/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi?s=4160879272f0ffff;act=ST;f=9;t=1;st=20

darwinfinch · 3 October 2004

And where does the real Kansas KKK, or any local Nazi Party chapter that may exist, stand on these issues? Certainly on this Mr. Calvert's side 100%.

Dishonesty, thy name is Creationist.

Tom Curtis · 3 October 2004

Darwinfinch wrote:

And where does the real Kansas KKK, or any local Nazi Party chapter that may exist, stand on these issues? Certainly on this Mr. Calvert's side 100%.

Possibly true, but certainly irrelevant. This issue revolves around the moral standards and practises of creationists - not those of fringe groups who might seek comfort from their doctrines. It is no sort of argument against evolution that Hitler drew comfort from his distorted view of evolution, anymore than it is an argument against theism that Hitler drew comfort from his distorted view of God. But equally, it is not argument against ID that Hitler's intellectual descendant's draw comfort from their ideas. Tom Curtis PS: Wesley, saying someone has "met their Waterloo" is a common phrase indicating that they have met a final, and resounding defeat. It is not an invidious comparison, even when inaccurately applied (as by Dembski).

Brian Poindexter · 3 October 2004

I attended Jack's presentation and it was first rate as usual. The degree to which the IDers were over the top in their objections is a direct indication that Jack's speech hit home hard. The thing I noticed, which seemed really apparent by their questions after the presentation, is that the IDers really do think they are entitled to give their side of their story at any venue. Like spoiled brats they carry themselves as if the world revolves around them. I venture to say their response was tantrum-like, when compared to the levelheaded presentation itself and the questions from others afterwards. But what else can you expect from an organization that depends on infomercial-style hype to make their point. The only avenue open to them to peddle their wares is the press, as mainstream science has rejected their tripe. Hence to sum it all up,

Intelligent design = discovery by press release.

Ed Darrell · 4 October 2004

Nothing in science reminds me of KKK activities. But, then, one would have to be familiar with KKK activities to be reminded of them, and I've never attended such an event, nor wanted to.

The critics of science out themselves again.

Jack Krebs · 4 October 2004

This is a good point. How do they know how a KKK wizard acts? (Not like me, I can assure you.)

Seriously, this is name-calling of the worse sort.

Tom Curtis · 4 October 2004

I assume that they would know how a KKK wizard acts from documentaries, or other historical sources. Alternatively, they don't know, and don't care how a KKK wizard acts - but are happy with the negative conotations.

I agree, however, that this (including suggesting they "have outed themselves") is name calling of the worst sort.

Wayne Francis · 5 October 2004

Does anyone have a problem getting MP3s # 21-23?

Jack Krebs · 5 October 2004

They work for me, but I also notice all three have quotation marks in the titles, which probably is the problem. I'll fix this, but it probably won't get done until tonight. Thanks for pointing this out.

Wayne Francis · 6 October 2004

Great speech btw. I've listen to all but those 3 last night.

Jack Krebs · 6 October 2004

Thanks. I think I've fixed 21-23. Please try them now.