[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for your reply!

The primary problem here, and the reason for the hostility, is that creationists are misrepresenting the significance of the article's publication. They have geared up to use the publication of a peer-reviewed article -- not even original science, but a summary article -- to support the false claim of respectability for ID.

This is no justification or excuse for illegal conduct - whether discrimation based on another's (presumed) beliefs, abuse of power, malicious libel or slander, etc.

The defenders of evolution theory must learn to stay within the bounds of the law - whether at the universities or the museums, etc.

To the contrary notwithstanding - if your assertion were a legal defense (and it is not) it would still require the presentation of motive, i.e. "to support the false claim of respectability for ID". And that in turn would require the defense to prove that ID is not respectable either as science or as a belief.

[js1138]

Nothing illegal was done. I would not have done what the Smithsonian did, but it wasn't illegal. And as others have pointed out, his job is unaffected. He has no claim other than wounded pride.