Bogus Neutrality
by tristero
There are times when neutrality is reasonable. And neutrality does not necessarily imply a lack of judgment or indecision. And sometimes, neutrality is appropriate in the face of complex controversies. Take string theory, for example. Even the most ardent partisans among physicists admit that there are at least a few points in the other side’s favor.
Now, as an often bewildered outsider, I may like the interplay of weird ideas or think they sound preposterous. But I’m in no position to take a side as to whether or not they could be scientifically valid. Besides, the most qualified authorities who grasp the details are themselves divided. Neutrality in the face of this controversy strikes me as the only sensible position.
There are times when “neutrality” isn’t neutral, when a desire to appear unbiased betrays a bias. The Texas Education Agency’s reluctance to appear biased in favor of evolution and against intelligent design (ID) creationism is one of those times.
In November 2007, officials at the Texas Education Agency (TEA) forced the resignation of TEA Director of Science Christina Castillo Comer, who had held that position for nine years after having been a Texas science teacher for twenty-seven years. The offense that prompted this turn of events was Comer’s forwarding an e-mail about a November 2, 2007, lecture that I was scheduled to give in Austin, TX. Entitled “Inside Creationism’s Trojan Horse: A Closer Look at Intelligent Design,” the talk was sponsored by the Austin chapter of the Center for Inquiry. This lecture, one of many such presentations I have given all over the country, condensed into fifty minutes almost a decade of scholarly research about the ID creationist movement. (A version of the lecture is online. See also my July 2007 Center for Inquiry paper about the ID movement.)The National Center for Science Education (NCSE), where I serve on the board of directors, had sent an announcement of the lecture to Austin-area NCSE members and a few others, including Comer. Adding nothing more than an “FYI,” Comer sent it along to a few people who might be interested, as she had done with many prior announcements. However, this time she was placed on leave and given an ultimatum: resign or be fired. She resigned on November 7 after supervisor Monica Martinez wrote a November 5 memo recommending her termination. (See my statement in response to Comer’s termination here and a second statement here.)
Full disclosure: Barbara Forrest is a friend of mine. I am honored to know her. She has not only taken a principled stand but been extremely effective in the war – no other word- with the Christian Right. Anyone who wishes to understand what the issues are in the fight to oppose “intelligent design” creationism should read her book, Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design