being a "nice person" does not mean that they don't do "mean" things. And they should rightfully be called on that when it happens. And ignorance should be corrected, not protected.

Plenty of so called nice people have referred to AIDS as God's punishment... WTF?!? What dreaded sin could possibly have been committed by children born infected with diease??? Sins of the fathers seems to be justification enough.

If it's not acceptable to suffer racial slurs, why should OK for ignorant slurs against people who have spent a major part of their lives in the pursuit of scientific investigation to be put out there unchallanged?

This is an honest question. Why defend pete as being nice but uninformed... instead of saying hey, Pete, I know you don't mean to be offensive, but look here...