Smackdown!

[owlmoose]

Roger Ebert is accused of refusing to review "eXpelled", Ben Stein's documentary on creationism, because he believes in evolution.

In response, Roger Ebert pwns Ben Stein.

"Expelled" is not a bad film from the technical point of view. It is well photographed and edited, sometimes amusing, has well-chosen talking heads, gives an airing to evolutionists however truncated and interrupted with belittling images, and incorporates entertainingly unfair historical footage, as when it compares academia's rejection of Creationism to the erection of the Berlin Wall.

Hilariously, the film argues that evolutionists cannot tolerate dissent. If you were to stand up at a "Catholic and mainstream Protestant" debate and express your support of Creationism, you would in most cases be politely listened to. There are few places as liberal as Boulder, Colo., where I twice debated a Creationist at the Conference on World Affairs, and yet his views were heard politely there. If you were to stand up at an evangelical meeting to defend evolution, I doubt if you would be made to feel as welcome, or that your dissent would be quite as cheerfully tolerated.

The more you know about evolution, or simple logic, the more you are likely to be appalled by the film. No one with an ability for critical thinking could watch more than three minutes without becoming aware of its tactics.

The sad thing about this is that I used to like and respect Ben Stein, speechwriter for Nixon or no. His game show, "Win Ben Stein's Money" (referenced to hilarious effect at the beginning of Ebert's article) was one of the most entertaining things on television in its day. But like so many other conservative commentators, he seems to have descended into bitter incoherence in recent years. A shame, really.

Comments

I

[kunstarniki.livejournal.com]

My word! That might easily be described as 'overkill'. What a sledgehammer of reason Ebert applied to the flimsy edifice of Creationism. I found the article delightful and think Ben Stein will not be so eager for a critique in the future. Dear me! I am afraid I laughed at places which would have badly hurt the feelings of the poor pious believers in this ID nonsense. Thank you so much for the link. ;)

[solomita.livejournal.com]

I don't remember Ben Stein ever demonstrating sanity. He allowed himself to be mocked on his game show, presumably for the money. Not a step that leads me to respect him in other contexts. I am not aware of any intelligent or thoughtful comments from him.