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January 13, 2008 Doreen Hermelin, National President ORT America 75 Maiden Lane, 10th Floor New York, NY 10038 Dear Mrs. Hermelin, My name is Hayley Green Smith and I am past president of the Silicon Valley chapter of ORT America, a Life Member, member of the de Gunzbourg Society, and a long time ORT supporter. When reading the announcement for the March 2008 Annual Meeting, I was dismayed to find out that Ben Stein is the keynote speaker. While Mr. Stein's long and distinguished resume includes stints as a lawyer, actor, economist, and teacher, did you also know that he is an outspoken supporter of the Intelligent Design (ID) movement and that he won an award from National Right to Life in 2003?" These positions directly contradict two of ORT America's Public Policy Resolutions. As an example of Mr. Stein's support of ID, he is starring in Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, about claims of persecution of teachers of ID, slated for release in February 2008. In Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District, teaching intelligent design in schools was ruled a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The teaching of ID in schools contradicts ORT America's Resolution on Democratic Values that states, "We therefore support the separation between church and state and oppose efforts to erode this fundamental constitutional principle..." According to a 2003 press release on the National Right to Life website, Mr. Stein is one of the recipients of the Proudly Pro-Life Award which "honors those who are outspoken in the advocacy for the unborn." The ORT America Resolutions on Democratic Values and Human Rights both state, "We therefore support unrestricted access to information and services for family planning, health care and reproductive freedom." It is disappointing to me that ORT America would invite a keynote speaker who does not support multiple organizational core values. Would you hire someone who is anti-Israel or pro-school voucher? Why are these issues any different? My intent here is only to inform, as I did not see these positions listed as part of Mr. Stein's biography on the ORT America website. I hope that in the future, when arranging for a keynote speaker, that the speaker's public positions are fully vetted prior to booking him or her. Sincerely, Hayley Green Smith |
