What Happened to Freedom of Speech?

I would like to encourage you to consider taking some friends to go see this movie which might be the best freedom of speech movie in a long, long time. Here is the press release.

In a Major Motion Picture Release
Ben Stein exposes the frightening agenda of the “Darwinian Machine” in Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
Coming April, 2008

(LOS ANGELES, Calif.) August 22, 2007 – It’s a movie that Ferris Bueller would take the day off to go see. What freedom-loving student wouldn’t be outraged to
discover that his high school science teacher is teaching a theory as
indisputable fact, and that university professors unmercifully crush any fellow
scientists who dare question the prevailing system of belief? This isn’t the
latest Hollywood comedy; it’s a disturbing new documentary that will shock
anyone who thinks all scientists are free to follow the evidence wherever it may
lead.

Produced by Premise Media, Expelled, which will be in
theaters April, 2008, is being marketed by Motive Entertainment, the company
that has spearheaded significant Hollywood blockbusters, including The Passion
of the Christ, Polar Express and The Chronicles of Narnia. Rocky Mountain
Pictures, an established distribution company, which has enjoyed numerous
box-office successes, will distribute the film.

Ben Stein, the lovable, monotone teacher from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Wonder Years is on a journey to answer one of the biggest questions ever asked: Were we designed or are we simply the end result of an ancient mud puddle struck by lightning? Stein, who is also a lawyer, an economist, a former presidential
speechwriter, author and social commentator, is stunned by what he finds on his
journey. He discovers an elitist scientific establishment that has traded in its
skepticism for dogma. But even worse, along the way, Stein uncovers a long line
of biologists, astronomers, chemists and philosophers who have had their
reputations destroyed and their careers ruined by a scientific establishment
that allows absolutely no dissent from Charles Darwin’s theory of random
mutation and natural selection.

“Big Science in this area of biology has lost its way,” says Stein. “Scientists are supposed to be allowed to follow the evidence wherever it may lead, no matter what the implications are. Freedom of inquiry has been greatly compromised, and this is not only anti-American, it’s anti-science. Its anti-the whole concept of learning.”

Expelled uncovers that educators and scientists are being ridiculed, denied tenure and even fired in some cases for the fact that they believe there is evidence of “design” in nature, challenging the idea that life is a result of random chance. For example, Stein meets Richard Sternberg, a double PhD biologist who allowed a peer-reviewed research paper describing the evidence for intelligence in the universe to be published in the scientific journal Proceedings. Not long after publication, officials from the National Center for Science Education and the Smithsonian Institution where Sternberg was a research fellow began a coordinated smear and intimidation campaign to get the promising young scientist expelled from his position. This attack on scientific freedom was so egregious that it prompted a congressional investigation.


On his journey, Stein meets other scientists such as astrobiologist Guillermo
Gonzalez, who was denied tenure at Iowa State University in spite of his
extraordinary record of achievement. Gonzalez made the mistake of documenting
the design he has observed in the universe. There are others, such as Caroline
Crocker, a brilliant biology teacher at George Mason University who was forced
out of the university for briefly discussing problems with Darwinian Theory and
for telling the students that some scientists believe there is evidence of
design in the universe. The list goes on and on.

Unlike some other documentary films, Expelled doesn’t just talk to people representing one side of the story. The film confronts scientists such as Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion, influential biologist and atheist blogger PZ Myers and Eugenie Scott, head of the National Center for Science Education. The creators of Expelled crossed the globe over a two-year period, interviewing scores of
scientists, doctors, philosophers and public leaders. The result is a startling
revelation that freedom of thought and freedom of inquiry have been expelled
from publicly-funded high schools, universities and research institutions.

“The incredible thing about Expelled is that we don’t resort to
manipulating our interviews for the purpose of achieving the ‘shock effect,’
something that has become common in documentary film these days,” said Walt
Ruloff, co-founder of Premise Media and co-Executive Producer. “People will be
stunned to actually find out what elitist scientists proclaim, which is that a
large majority of Americans are simpletons who believe in a fairy tale. Premise
Media took on this difficult mission because we believe the greatest asset of
humanity is our freedom to explore and discover truth.”

The extensive grass roots campaign for Expelled, spearheaded by Motive Entertainment president, Paul Lauer, will include nationwide screenings and endorsements with key leaders, promotional materials, a promotional resource DVD, publicity, radio promotions and Internet. In addition, a pre-launch campaign will include unprecedented partnerships and a widespread campaign together with educators, youth, scientists, families and the media nationwide.

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed is scheduled for release in April 2008.
For more information on Ben Stein’s journey visit www.expelledthemovie.com.