Mirecki assaulted
by KrauzeProfessor Mirecki, whose "slap in the face" course on intelligent design was recently withdrawn, alleges that he was assaulted by two unknown men. In an interview for 6 News, Andrew Stangl, the President of the Society of Open-Minded Atheists and Agnostics, claimed that the assailants were creationists who were angry with Mirecki's comments. Like the writers on The Panda's Thumb, we'd like to have more than "a few second-hand reports", so we won't take a position on whether this is correct or not.
However, if Professor Mirecki was attacked over his remarks about intelligent design, then that's something that should be renounced by every civilized person. Disagreements over an issue like this should be resolved through discussion and arguments, never violence. We wish the police all the best, and hope that the case will soon be solved.
December 6th, 2005 at 9:16 pm
Krauze:
I agree. In fact, what's most disturbing about this whole incident is that it looks like Mirecki was stalked! Let's hope they find the two guys and punish them to the fullest extent of the law.
Comment by MikeGene — December 6, 2005 @ 9:16 pm
December 6th, 2005 at 9:37 pm
Assuming the reports are accurate this is a very disturbing development. The guys should be prosecuted to the fullest extent for their crimes against Mirecki. Mirecki's free speech and academic freedom should be protected, and I denounce any attack on a persons free speech rights and academic freedom.
Further, this is bad for IDists and creationists. Mirecki's course had already been cancelled, his reputation damaged, the anti-ID side's reputation damaged, and it is apparent the ID side was slated to come out on top in this affair.
What a frankly stupid thing for guys to do on behalf of the ID side as to make a criminal act in the face of a political victory. Those idiots should be thrown in jail for the crime and their stupidity.
In addition to this being wrong, this incident is putting some of my circles at risk who are already suffering slight vandelism and receiving angry e-mails. A battlefield climate is the last thing I want to see on the college campuses…..
I hope some here will forgive me for holding out hope that the account is not true, because if so, this is really bad news for everyone….
Comment by Salvador T. Cordova — December 6, 2005 @ 9:37 pm
December 6th, 2005 at 11:51 pm
It was probably PZ Meyers and a cohort
Comment by Dane Parker — December 6, 2005 @ 11:51 pm
December 7th, 2005 at 12:10 am
People who play with fire tend to get burned. On the other hand why would two guys stalk someone, assault that peson but only to the point that he was left "shaken up, with some bruises and sore spots"
Everyone knows if you are going to beat someone you go UFC on the guy- quick n brutal- IOW you don't mess up the guy's hair.
Assault of any kind is wrong. However saying that physical assault is worse than psychological assault just begs the question- Would the physical assault have occured if the psychological assault hadn't occured? Sorta doubtful.
Freedom of speech is a beautiful thing. However freedom isn't free therefore every speech has a price.
Cause n effect. Karma. Call it whatever you want. You may have the right to say whatever you want but it would also be prudent to think that someone may be listening. And if you know someone is listening and you know what you say offends them, you had better be a good boyscout (which would be ironic because a good boyscout wouldn't be a such a position).
That said it does remind me of the movie "Talk Radio". It also reminds me of the KKK rally in a minority neighborhood of Toledo. Who didn't think violence was going to break out during that?
I denounce senseless violence. I also denounce those who use their positions to spew senseless inflamatory nonsense.
(perhaps more people should acquaint themselves with Voltaire…)
Comment by Joe G — December 7, 2005 @ 12:10 am
December 7th, 2005 at 7:53 am
I find the whole beating story highly suspect. As Joe G mentioned, if two guys are angry enough to stalk someone by following them in their vehicle, and to actually begin beating him, they won't just "shake him up", unless they are also professors.
Comment by Douglas — December 7, 2005 @ 7:53 am
December 7th, 2005 at 8:00 am
My initial thought at hearing the news of Mirecki's beating at the hands of two pickup truck stalkers was that it was a set-up in order to deflect all the negative reaction away from Mirecki (and the University of Kansas). The effect is to turn Mirecki into a sympathetic character, a victim, rather than an obnoxious, arrogant, boor. I can see someone like Mirecki agreeing to be "shaken up" a little, in order to perhaps save his career, or at least his job at the University of Kansas.
Anyway, that was my initial reaction. Of course, if the story is true, I would condemn the actions of the stalkers, and would wish Mirecki safety and the freedom to be irritating without rhe fear of physical retribution.
Comment by Douglas — December 7, 2005 @ 8:00 am