Paul Costello would like to see more political activity on the part of physicians. But what if this activity simply extends on the "˜scientific temper' we have seen over the last several months? I quickly went through the archives of our own humble blog to come up with some memorable moments of such scientific temper.

There are two things to ponder as you read through the short list. First, in the world of politics, you make enemies. That's part of running for office or actively supporting candidates. When part of a political campaign, objectivity is sacrificed to loyalty, facts are turned into spin. If the scholars, scientists, and physicians seek to drag their professions into the political landscape, their professions will have to follow along with these campaign strategies and thus be defined more and more by things such as these memorable moments. Secondly, as more scholars, scientists, and physicians join the political battle, I foresee the list of memorable moments expanding.

According to Alberts, the scientific temper exhibits creativity, openness, and tolerance. Let's see how it plays out in the political battle.

#1. An international scholar designs a course for the purpose of offending a group of religious people. The course is only canceled after the scholar makes the mistake of publicly bragging to his own students about his admitted attempt to use the classroom as a vehicle for slapping fat faces.

#2. Scientists at the Smithsonian Institute engage in a frenzied witch hunt that is fueled by gossip and rumors. The situation is so bad that the victim reports to the OSC and the OSC corroborates his account. In response, the Smithsonian has stone-walled, arguing that it will not comment on this incident anymore.

#3. A scholar begins a petition drive because he thinks a conspiracy has placed an ID proponent with a secret agenda at his school. The scholar wants the accused to appear before something that smells like a tribunal.

#4. A scientist defends Richard Dawkins' notion that parents who raise their children in a religious tradition are guilty of child abuse.

#5. That leading British scientist argues religious people are like "dangerous criminals" and compares a religious upbringing to be hooked on dangerous drugs. He's also about to put out a video blaming religion for all evil.

#6. One scientist succeeds in publishing a bogus study that attempts to blame religion for all of society's ills.

#7. A scientist compares ID proponents to muggers/rapists who stalk a jogger in the park.

#8. The president of the NCSE thinks her biased subjective impressions are enough for labeling another scientist a "˜creationist.'

#9. Scientists argue that science and evolution lead to atheism.

#10. A leading scientist declares the biology classroom as a metaphysical battleground.

#11. The editor of Scientific American attacks university presidents because they wouldn't agree to deny a college education to students who did not sufficiently learn about evolution in high school.

#12. A neuroscientist argues that "nominally religious scientists like Francis Collins and Kenneth R. Miller are doing lasting harm to our discourse by the accommodations they have made to religious irrationality."

#13. A developmental biologist fantasizes about wearing brass knuckles and steel-toed boats in order to "hammer" on the proponents of ID.

#14. The creator of Dilbert (yes, Dilbert) is accused of being a creationist because he dares to criticize the way some critics of ID have been behaving.

#15. A biologist prejudges and proudly excludes an essay without ever bothering to read it.

#16. A university president praises a discredited scholar who introduced the notion that science and religion must exist in a state of war.

#17. A professor publicly accuses a student of being a criminal for giving an ID presentation.

#18. A PhD student fantasizes about breaking the knee caps of ID proponents.

Waiting for #19.

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