Ben Park Scrubbed From MI

[Doctor Scratch]

This really is an extraordinary development. Either the MI administration "scrubbed" him, or this was ordered by the Apostles. (Or BYU admin, which is indistinguishable from the 12.) No matter how you slice it, this is insane: can you imagine Holland or one of the other GAs telling some BYU webmaster that they have to delete all these links? I mean: holy crap. The old, FARMS people went ballistic when this happened to their old, crappy articled *by accident.* And yet, here we have what appears to be deliberate censorship as a means of punishment.

On the one hand, I'm shocked that "SeN" hasn't been crowing about this: "Hey, look! 'Liberal' Ben Park has gotten a spanking from the Brethren!" Except the allegedly "Libertarian" proprietor is supposed to be in favor of "free speech" (despite rampant censorship on "SeN"). So, this is actually an extraordinary test of the Mopologists' mettle. Will they comment on this? And do they approve of what's happened, or not?

I’m reminded of the time that Dr. Peterson thought that the Maxwell Institute had deliberately cropped him out of an old photo and he drew parallels to the the Soviet practice of erasing people who had fallen out of favor from photos.

Indeed. Dr. Peterson’s silence on this issue leads one to wonder if he’s been “struck deaf and dumb”—Korihor in retirement, as it were.

[drumdude]

Daved asked Peterson directly on his blog 2 minutes ago. Posted here so Peterson can't delete it and stay silent.

Kinda interesting that the statements attributed to Joseph's prescient notion that he's going to die came after, in many cases many years after, he died, and all contemporary accounts like from the council of 50 show no such concern. Also it'd be really creepy if he basically told 9 year Olds he's going off to be killed. What a way to ruin kids' frame of mind, but likely worked in keeping them believing for fear.

Also, not sure if you knew, the maxwell Institute fired its Musket of Defense, perhaps something to cheer from a defender of Hollands speech perspective. Apparently they were told to scrub Dr Ben Park from any association. Apparently he took issue with Holland's imagery of shooting muskets and mistepresenting the situation involving a former BYU student. I guess it's happening, huh? I'd wonder how you feel about it considering your rocky issues involving the Institute. Good or bad move?

[Moksha]

It is a sad day for Mormonism that its homophobia forced even greater Stalinist tactics on BYU. Wonder if outside scholars will hear of this event? Will they even care if the LDS erase their own?

[IHAQ]

In terms of the erasure of Ben Park from MI History, one would hope Brother Peterson would remain consistent in his thoughts about such a matter at a BYU Institution. Here's what he said about the suggestion that BYU should erase slaveowners...

My response: No!

Once we start down this road, how can we ever stop? The virtue police have proven themselves insatiable. Christopher Columbus? Check. Robert E. Lee? Check. Thomas Jefferson? Check. George Washington? Check. Winston Churchill? Check. All of them reduced to one aspect of their lives, judged, and found not merely wanting but demanding condemnation and erasure.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeters ... amids.html

One assumes he will publicly condemn the erasure of Ben Park in similar tone.

[Kishkumen]

I am not holding my breath for any condemnation of the erasure of Ben Park at Mi from the direction of SeN. Park criticized one of the Brethren! That’s much worse than finding fault with George Washington. Elder Oaks said the Brethren should never be criticized, even if the criticism is true.

[Tom]

Dr. Peterson’s response:

As for Ben Park, I've heard the news and I have no particular opinion on it or insight into it. Please extend my apologies to the folks on the Obsession Board who so eagerly hope to draw me into the matter and who encouraged you to raise it here.

I am not making this up.

[jlamothe]

The Wayback Machine remembers -
https://web.archive.org/web/20210120130 ... amin-park/

When will the church learn that you can't erase something from the internet?

[Philo Sofee]

Dr. Peterson’s response:

As for Ben Park, I've heard the news and I have no particular opinion on it or insight into it. Please extend my apologies to the folks on the Obsession Board who so eagerly hope to draw me into the matter and who encouraged you to raise it here.

I am not making this up.

Lol. No surprise. Social justice is hardly his strong point.

[Philo Sofee]

The Wayback Machine remembers -
https://web.archive.org/web/20210120130 ... amin-park/

When will the church learn that you can't erase something from the internet?

When they receive a revelation in, oh say, 60 years from now.

[Dr Moore]

Shockwaves across BYU continue. I doubt Ben Park will be the last. There are too many honestly good people teaching at BYU and they won't be silenced for long. I think the high-profile casualties have only just begun.