Posted on 12/06/2005 3:01:46 PM PST by billorites
A professor whose planned course on creationism and intelligent design was canceled after he sent e-mails deriding Christian conservatives was hospitalized Monday after what appeared to be a roadside beating.
University of Kansas religious studies professor Paul Mirecki said that the two men who beat him made references to the class that was to be offered for the first time this spring.
Originally called "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies," the course was canceled last week at Mirecki's request.
The class was added after the Kansas State Board of Education decided to include more criticism of evolution in science standards for elementary and secondary students.
"I didn't know them," Mirecki said of his assailants, "but I'm sure they knew me."
One recent e-mail from Mirecki to members of a student organization referred to religious conservatives as "fundies," and said a course describing intelligent design as mythology would be a "nice slap in their big fat face." Mirecki has apologized for those comments.
Lt. Kari Wempe, a spokeswoman for the Douglas County Sheriff's Department, said a deputy was dispatched to Lawrence Memorial Hospital after receiving a call around 7 a.m. regarding a battery.
She said Mirecki reported he was attacked around 6:40 a.m. in rural Douglas County south of Lawrence. Mirecki told the Lawrence Journal-World that he was driving to breakfast when he noticed the men tailgating him in a pickup truck.
"I just pulled over hoping they would pass, and then they pulled up real close behind," he said. "They got out, and I made the mistake of getting out."
He said the men beat him on the head, shoulders and back with their fists, and possibly a metal object.
Wempe said Mirecki drove himself to the hospital after the attack.
Mirecki told the student newspaper, the University Daily Kansan, that he spent between three and four hours at the hospital. He said his injuries included a broken tooth.
"I'm mostly shaken up, and I got some bruises and sore spots," he told the Lawrence Journal-World.
Wempe said Mirecki described the suspects as two white men between 30 and 40 years of age. One of the men was described as wearing a red, visorlike ball cap and wool gloves. Mirecki said the men left in a large pickup.
Wempe said the department would investigate "every aspect," but couldn't discuss specifics.
Andrew Stangl, president of the Society for Open Minded Atheists and Agnostics at the university, described the attack as "bizarre and terrifying." He said Mirecki, who is the group's faculty adviser, was adamant that the beating was related to the recently canceled course.
"That absolutely shocked me," he said, "because people don't do that in a civilized society."
State Sen. Kay O'Connor, a Mirecki critic, said there is no excuse for someone physically assaulting the professor -- regardless of their politics.
"I have zero tolerance for thugs," she said. "There is never an excuse to behave in such a manner. This was just thugs. They used a flimsy excuse, if they had one, to behave as thugs. They can talk about the ID (intelligent design) course if they want to, but that's not an excuse."
Bad and stupid by some of our standards...maybe.
Hmmmmmmmmmm.
"Andrew Stangl, president of the Society for Open Minded Atheists and Agnostics at the university, described the attack as 'bizarre and terrifying.'"
Bizarre it is, terrifying it is not. This has hoax written all over it.
"Society for Open Minded Atheists"
Some of the most pinched, closed little minds I've ever encountered belonged to athiests.
"So it wasn't a big bad SUV?"
"Fundies" are the target here, wouldn't want to deflect any blame to the vehicle.
"I guess he submits to pickups whenever one approaches from behind."
LOL. Probably.
If they alledged attackers waited for the guy to exit his house, they're not going to be so gentle with forcing him off the road. Now when clowns tailgate someone to force them to stop, most folks keep going. They sense immanent attack. The ones that stop are the hardcore and braindead nitwits. Being close to 10oF, nitwits will be very unlikely to stop to get out to talk. They'll speed up and run into town, which I think was close by.
Then there's the wool gloves. Folks that drive trucks and have the inclination to beat folks that pss them off, just don't wear wool gloves. They wear leather. Wool is nice, but it's just not warm enough, it's slippery and it doesn't wear well at all. It's glove liner mat'l. People that intend to deliver a beating would never wear them. They wear leather. It protects their hands. Especially in those temps. Women and yuppies wear wool gloves.
I think it's a hoax.
I have always thought that the "Darwin fish" attempts to boldly make a statement contradictory to creation. Considering evolutionists for the most part implicitly state that the theory of evolution not only does not but can not attempt to answer the question of creation I find it odd that some evolutionists claiming scientific acumen rather than a religious faith in the theory of evolution would sport these as "Darwin fish" on their vehicles as you apparently do...
I have always perceived the "Darwin fish" as just more ridicule of Christianity from the immoral and leftist -maybe I am wrong and you can enlighten me on what the "Darwin fish" means -if it has no scientific basis is it simply a symbol of hate or evolution religion?
So, two redneck hillbillies just happen to know exactly what this guy looks like and the car he drives ?
He knows the exact time he was assaulted, but, can't describe the truck ?
Except it was " big" and scary.
What kind of idiot gets out and confronts rednecks in a pick up truck on a deserted rural road at 6:40 am ?
" One of the men was described as wearing a red, visorlike ball cap and wool gloves."
What's a visorlike baseball cap? Is it a visor or a cap ?
And who would wear a visor in December , in the Midwest ?
And he can't remember if their hats said Chiefs or Joe's Auto Shop ?
And I'm sure the two rednecks were conversant with "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies ."
This whole thing reeks of hoax .
You ever think it might be parody? Sort of, you have your opinion, here is my opposing opinion in a humorous manner?
Yes -I would not have thought so myself but yes it very well could be humor. I do not see a Christian doing this type of humor -maybe a parody of evolutionists; however, that is just my perception.
Yes -I would not have thought so myself but yes it very well could be humor. I do not see a Christian doing this type of humor -maybe a parody of evolutionists; however, that is just my perception.
Christians can have a sense of humor too! I have seen the fish symbols eating the fish-with-feet symbols. Perfect response; humor but makes your point.
R.C. "Clue:
- The Professor
- In front of his bathroom mirror
- With a sockfull of pennies"
I.R. "Well, here's the answer for ya, nobody."
LOL !! Maybe so. I hope he covered his tracks well if he did.
One thing here: "I just pulled over hoping they would pass, and then they pulled up real close behind," he said. "They got out, and I made the mistake of getting out."
I guess he pulled over on a road nobody else was on. I didn`t read any reports of witnesses. Thats rather telling.
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