CWK: How I became a "fan" of Lou Midgley

[Moksha]

I was just thinking of that movie, you know, the one where the famed Mt. Olympian Neil A. Maxwell stands on the watchtower looking out to sea for enemy ships. I was especially fond of that scene where Maxwell spots a ship, but cannot make out the flag it is flying. One of the younger acolytes can discern the markings.

"Oh, great and powerful Maxwell, it is a ship from the Academics. [Some naughty words are spoken which will later need 16th Century translators to interpret]. "Academics!", shouted Maxwell, "they must not be allowed to reach our sacred shore; no uncontested landings today!"

"What are your orders, Sire?" The Olympian drew himself up to full measure and shouted the order:

Release the Kraken! Let us see how these so-called "Academics" deal with our Midgley.

The huge metal cage door swung open and the monstrous Kraken swam forth. One of the soldiers nudged his comrade and whispered, "It may look puny for a monster, but I doubt there has ever been one so ferocious. It can spit acidic venom over a hundred feet". The creature turned to face the Olympian. With a stern look, the Olympian shouted his orders, "Destroy the Academic's vessel and devour the Academics".

The Kraken turned and swam straight to the vessel. It was quite a battle. The Academics raised the shield of valid information, while the Kraken spewed its acidic venom. The Academics fired a volley of reason at the Kraken-Midgley and it visibly weakened.

"Sire", Praetorian Peterson said to the Olympian Maxwell, "the Kraken cannot long survive out of its protective cage. Shall we release the junior Kraken, the ones the keepers call Kiwi?" "No, it too will founder in unprotected water."

"Keepers, recall the Kraken. Make sure you feed it several sacrificial lambs tonight so that it may regain its strength in the navel and toxic sludge in its bones. Those Academics will think twice before they engage with the likes of us."

[Marcus]

I suppose the word "fan" is in quotation marks for a reason. I can see appreciating some of his works, but it's difficult to see how anyone can non-ironically be a fan of a man who has treated so many people so very badly, for many, many decades.

[Kishkumen]

I suppose the word "fan" is in quotation marks for a reason. I can see appreciating some of his works, but it's difficult to see how anyone can non-ironically be a fan of a man who has treated so many people so very badly, for many, many decades.

Indeed. I make it clear in the video why there are scare quotes around the word fan.

[Gadianton]

Another great episode and I thought the evaluation of L was fair. It's too bad his self-awareness is so entirely lacking that he's dedicated his life to treating Gina Colvin and others like the McCarthy faction of BYU treated him. It's not that McCarthyism is bad, it's that the wrong people with the wrong ideology were in charge. It's good if he's among the elite and he gets decide who to pick on.

[Dr Exiled]

He is part of the reason I didn't go to BYU. One of his relatives was outed by the Midge for, horror of horrors, writing an article for Sunstone that didn't worship the church. The Midge ratted his own flesh and blood out to our stake president and his flesh and blood's bishop (the poor unfortunate relative was in another ward). Then, my brother had the horrible experience of having the Midge as a professor in what was supposed to be a political science class but was instead, really, an apologetic class as the Midge would keep injecting apologetics into the course. No thank you.

[Dr Exiled]

Great episode. Reed Benson, the Birchers, and McCarthy's communist smears on anyone that disagreed with them is something that should be continually revisited and rightfully denounced. I guess I have to agree that the Midge was correct on that score. However, my brief history with the guy which includes a tirade that I witnessed at the Rose Park Stake Center still leave a sour taste in my mouth about the man. Apparently, the Midge didn't think the Rose Park Stake Center was posh enough for his beloved New Zealand Missionary Society and went off to a point to where I thought he was going to try and punch someone. Whatever Midge, whatever.

Anyway, keep ''em coming. I enjoyed your take.

[Tom]

Kish, as a longtime reader of Brother Midgley's writings, I must confess that I enjoyed the video.

"We have to at least acknowledge the consistency of Professor Louis Midgley and that is, his unabashed, unapologetic, full-throated, complete conviction in the Mormon gospel as Professor Midgley understands it" (00:05:27). Well put.

Three minor notes:

First, I think you intended to say, "BYU political science professor Ralph Hancock" (00:01:49)

Second, I noticed your statement that Brother Midgley was editor of the FARMS Review of Books from 2005 to 2006 (00:01:04). I must admit that Brother Midgley wrote introductions to two issues of the journal during those years. However, he served as associate editor of the journal (through several name changes) from about 2001 to 2011 (see Daniel C. Peterson, "Editor's Introduction: Q&A," FARMS Review of Books 13/2 (2001): xxii-xxiii and Daniel C. Peterson, "Editor's Introduction: "'To Cheer, to Raise, to Guide': Twenty-Two Years of the FARMS Review," Mormon Studies Review 23/1 (2011): xiii)). I don't believe he ever displaced the Proprietor as editor.

I would add "cultural Mormons" (as he defines the term) to the list of people he's attacked over the years (00:06:49).

Please continue your good work.

Posted from Dragon, Utah

[Kishkumen]

Kish, as a longtime reader of Brother Midgley's writings, I must confess that I enjoyed the video.

"We have to at least acknowledge the consistency of Professor Louis Midgley and that is, his unabashed, unapologetic, full-throated, complete conviction in the Mormon gospel as Professor Midgley understands it" (00:05:27). Well put.

Three minor notes:

First, I think you intended to say, "BYU political science professor Ralph Hancock" (00:01:49)

Second, I noticed your statement that Brother Midgley was editor of the FARMS Review of Books from 2005 to 2006 (00:01:04). I must admit that Brother Midgley wrote introductions to two issues of the journal during those years. However, he served as associate editor of the journal (through several name changes) from about 2001 to 2011 (see Daniel C. Peterson, "Editor's Introduction: Q&A," FARMS Review of Books 13/2 (2001): xxii-xxiii and Daniel C. Peterson, "Editor's Introduction: "'To Cheer, to Raise, to Guide': Twenty-Two Years of the FARMS Review," Mormon Studies Review 23/1 (2011): xiii)). I don't believe he ever displaced the Proprietor as editor.

I would add "cultural Mormons" (as he defines the term) to the list of people he's attacked over the years (00:06:49).

Please continue your good work.

Posted from Dragon, Utah

Damn, I said "Paul," didn't I? Ugh. It bothers me to flub the details like that. In this case it is much worse because I know very well who Ralph is and took American Heritage with him in the early '90s. Dang. I need to address that error in the future. Thanks also for the correction on Midgley's precise responsibilities for the journal. Never lead editor. Gotcha. Maybe I should do a corrections section in a future video. Thanks much for watching, Tom, and please keep the fact-checking going!

[Kishkumen]

Another great episode and I thought the evaluation of L was fair. It's too bad his self-awareness is so entirely lacking that he's dedicated his life to treating Gina Colvin and others like the McCarthy faction of BYU treated him. It's not that McCarthyism is bad, it's that the wrong people with the wrong ideology were in charge. It's good if he's among the elite and he gets decide who to pick on.

Sad, isn't it? Why is it that people who rightly criticize others for wrongdoing too often are unable to see the same problem in themselves? Humanity. Thanks for the praise and thanks for watching, Dean!

[Kishkumen]

He is part of the reason I didn't go to BYU. One of his relatives was outed by the Midge for, horror of horrors, writing an article for Sunstone that didn't worship the church. The Midge ratted his own flesh and blood out to our stake president and his flesh and blood's bishop (the poor unfortunate relative was in another ward). Then, my brother had the horrible experience of having the Midge as a professor in what was supposed to be a political science class but was instead, really, an apologetic class as the Midge would keep injecting apologetics into the course. No thank you.

Ugh. Sounds terrible. Yes, I don't hold Professor Midgley's snitching in high regard. Sunstone? Seriously? I mean, it is not like his relative wrote for the Tanners. He doesn't strike me as the kind of professor I would have enjoyed studying with. I had a hard enough time with Joseph Fielding McConkie.