The Martyrdom of Mark Elrod

It’s a sad day.  Mark Elrod’s blog is going private.  Check out a few quotes from our favorite complainer:

 I have over-estimated the capacity of both my academic (Harding University) and my religious (Church of Christ) community to deal with critical thinking or dissent in a public forum.

Well, if one could ACTUALLY dissent on his forum, that might be true but Elrod doesn’t allow that.  He has banned me (and others) from his forum for the simple fact that we point out his errors, inconsistencies, and hypocrisy.  He really hates that.  If you disagree with him and do it in a polite, logical way, that really burns him up and he will simply stop letting you post.  I guess that’s what Elrod sees as “dissent” or “critical thinking”. 

Of course, he will let pseudo intellectuals like GKB spew negative comments towards the right  all day long but if you try to point out errors or things from the left in the same, humours way, he will, again, not post them.  Yep.  THAT is “critical thinking” the Mark Elrod way for ya.

Here is another:

In short, I’d rather have a quiet, private discussion with friends than public arguments with anonymous critics who would rather run to my employer with complaints about something I said than trying to discuss it with me in a reasonable and rational manner.

As mentioned above, we would LOVE to have a discussion with Elrod AND keep that discussion reasonable, the only problem is Elrod.  He doesn’t want it.  He only wants to hear his own ideas regurgitated back at him.  He refuses to discuss things with people he disagrees with. 

This is such a joke.  Such BS….but, maybe it is.  Perhaps Elrod is just yanking everyone’s chain and will keep his site up.  However, I don’t think so.  He’s a typical Liberal who would rather complain about something than actually make a stand and do something about it. 

While we are on the subject of complainers, GKB posted this humours comment:

I wonder how much support a “Give HU Profs Tenure” Facebook group would get. Or perhaps a “Let Academic Freedom Ring” group. I can understand quashing dissent in a church, but for it to happen at an academic institution is just laughable.

Of course, Liberals are all for tenure.  They are the ones who want to force employers to keep you on the job no matter what you say or do.  Liberals, of course, don’t think there should be consequences to actions.    I wonder, GKB, what do you think of Elrod “quashing dissent” on his blog AND in his classroom?  He does both.  From my experience, Elrod doesn’t let “academic freedom ring” at all. 

That being said, If Harding is forcing this due to Elrod’s ideology, I would be disappointed but not surprised in the least.  He is actually the reason for this blog.  I was sick of getting locked out and wanted some good conversation.  It’s a shame, really.  I think HU is better with him there (not that he is going anywhere).  It shows students that they don’t have to toe the line.  They don’t have to believe what their parents do or what the school officials say they should.   He encouraged people to stand up for what they believe in, even if they are the minority.  Now, It may sound contrived but he was a voice in the wilderness for many.  Albeit a voice in error but a voice none the less.  The only problem I had was that he wears his big ‘D’ jersey a bit too much….But hey, after 20 years, he should know this and is free to leave at any time if he doesn’t like it.  I’m sure Berkley would hire him in a heartbeat if he chose to leave (which I don’t think he does at all).

BTW, the good people over at Politics and Culture have posted a good blog about this latest development.

We here at the Moratorium site are now on the search for a new resident complainer.  I think we will just go with John Edwards.  He’s looking for a job…at least until the next election cycle rolls around.

Tags: church of christ, GKB, Harding, Liberal, Mark Elrod, Whiner