“All of you are cowards!”

Reports have reached me of a little incident at the FAIR conference.  Apparently Blair Hodges accosted Dan Peterson in the FAIR bookstore, and objected to Dan mentioning the resignation from the Church of Kirk Caudle, with a possible tacit allusion to the fact that Caudle’s podcast had once been sponsored by the Maxwell Institute.

Hodges demanded an explanation for what Dan had written.  Dan said he had nothing more to say.  Hodges started calling him a coward, demanding a confrontation and explanation then and there.  Dan refused, saying his views on the Maxwell Institute’s “new direction” were clear and public, and he had nothing more to say.  The confrontation continued more accusations of cowardice, with Hodges stalking Dan around the FAIR bookstore and conference area for several minutes.  “All of you are cowards!” Hodges insisted, apparently referring to me and other critics of the “new” Maxwell Institute as well as Dan.

Well, Blair, I’d be happy to discuss any issue surrounding the Maxwell Institute with you, as long as the discussions are 1- written, 2- you actually also answer my questions clearly and completely, 3- the discussion is public, and 4- it is not anonymous on your part.  I’ve tried to have such discussions with you in the past, and you have consistently refused to go on the record.

[Note: the latest spin from Blair’s supporters is that I am trying to get Blair fired because I expressed my views on the appropriateness of Blair’s behavior.  This is NONSENSE.  At any rate, I have changed the offending phrase in green below.  Also, Dan did not request, approve, or know anything about my post.]

P.S.  Many of Blair’s supporters believe that Blair’s behavior is an entirely appropriate way for a junior staff member to treat a full professor at BYU.