Mirecki Beaten . . . Maybe

Last week, University of Kansas anti-Intelligent Design professor Paul Mirecki wrote of his course Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies that:

The fundies want it all taught in a science class, but this will be a nice slap in their big fat face by teaching it as a religious studies class under the category "mythology."

Well, today Mirecki claims to have been beaten by men who were driving a pickup truck:

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.

Color me skeptical that, if this happened at all, it had anything to do with his views on ID. More than likely, if he was beaten, he did something to get into the wrong person's face. Lastly, one cannot forget, it wouldn't be the first time someone in Mirecki's position made it all up.

p.s. If I were Mirecki, I'd steer clear of the "fat face" insult . . . glass houses being what they are, and all that.