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Scholar's Pedophilia Essay Stirs Outrage and Revenge
New York Times ^ | 4/30/02 | JODI WILGOREN

Posted on 04/29/2002 10:36:40 PM PDT by kattracks

KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 29 — Prof. Harris Mirkin could not have devised a better test for his controversial theory of sexual politics.

In 1999, Dr. Mirkin published an article in an obscure academic journal likening the "moral panic" surrounding pedophilia to the outrage of previous generations over feminism and homosexuality. Now, Dr. Mirkin, the chairman of the political science department at the University of Missouri's Kansas City campus, finds the panic swirling around him.

As the expanding sexual abuse scandal engulfs the Roman Catholic Church, Dr. Mirkin has become an object of outrage. Last week, the Missouri Legislature voted to cut $100,000 from the university's budget, saying taxpayers did not want to finance such perversity.

Today, in his office, Dr. Mirkin, 65, said through a sly smile: "The article is meant to be subversive; the article is meant to make people think. Because they have tried to stifle discussion, there has been a discussion, which is one of the healthy things about the United States."

Even as he is denounced on talk radio, whispered about in his quiet neighborhood and attacked in multiple languages on the Internet, Dr. Mirkin is being celebrated as a hero for academic freedom.

The chancellor here, Martha W. Gilliland, issued a strong statement supporting "the right to hold unpopular views," as did the president of the four-campus University of Missouri system. The faculty senate passed a resolution on his behalf, as did the American Association of University Professors.

"The appropriate place to debate the legitimacy of a professor's thought is in the marketplace of ideas," said Sheldon E. Steinbach, general counsel of the American Council on Education, a Washington group that represents 1,800 colleges and universities. "Today's heresy often becomes tomorrow's orthodoxy."

For the record, Dr. Mirkin, who has grandchildren 2 and 7, said he had never had sexual contact with a child. Incest and rape, he said, are always wrong. He agreed that priests and teachers who touched children sexually were abusing their authority.

But he questioned whether some people accusing priests these days were making up stories in search of a payday, and he said he believed that much of what was called molestation was really harmless touching.

He said he resented that teachers were leery of hugging children for fear they might be accused of abuse. He imagines, he said, most adolescent males have fantasies similar to his, as a 12-year-old delivery boy, of being seduced by a female customer, and he wondered whether it would have been so bad had it come true.

In the article, an 18-page essay with 38 footnotes published in the Journal of Homosexuality, Dr. Mirkin argued that the notion of the innocent child was a social construct, that all intergenerational sex should not be lumped into one ugly pile and that the panic over pedophilia fit a pattern of public response to female sexuality and homosexuality, both of which were once considered deviant.

"Though Americans consider intergenerational sex to be evil, it has been permissible or obligatory in many cultures and periods of history," he wrote.

Earlier this month, the State House of Representatives voted 102 to 29 to cut $100,000 from the Kansas City campus's $78 million appropriation. Last week, the State Senate did the same, 19 to 12. The office of Gov. Bob Holden said he had not yet taken a position on the cut.

"The goal is that the taxpayers not subsidize this guy's attempt to legitimize a despicable behavior and a dangerous behavior," said State Senator John Loudon, a Republican from the St. Louis suburbs. "We all respect academic freedom. Legitimizing molestation doesn't fall under academic freedom."

In the legislative debate, Representative Don Lograsso, a Republican, said Dr. Mirkin should be reprimanded or fired. "Sex between adults and children is not acceptable."

Chancellor Gilliland said she would find a way to absorb the cut — part of an $8 million reduction — in the university's $215 million annual budget without affecting Dr. Mirkin or the political science department, but, she added, the Legislature's meddling in university budgeting is a dangerous precedent.

"This particular issue is distasteful. I don't even like to think about it," said Ms. Gilliland, an engineer, who added that she had read the article but would not discuss it. "We got out of the Dark Ages when we said we can challenge belief, we can investigate."

Dr. Mirkin, who grew up on the West Side of Manhattan and earned his Ph.D. at Princeton, has taught here since 1966.

"I don't think it's something where we should just clamp our heads in horror," he said of pedophilia. "In 1900, everybody assumed that masturbation had grave physical consequences; that didn't make it true." "These things that you're sure of," he added, "you really ought to check out and test."



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1 posted on 04/29/2002 10:36:40 PM PDT by kattracks
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To: kattracks
"Though Americans consider intergenerational sex to be evil, it has been permissible or obligatory in many cultures and 
periods of history," he wrote.

The same applies to slavery and a great many other things. Racism, infanticide, human sacrifice, abuse of and 
discrimination against women, abuse of and discrimination against war, totalitarianism, cruel and unusual punishment.

Would Mirkin agree with these things?

2 posted on 04/29/2002 11:06:27 PM PDT by Persuasion
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To: kattracks
"I don't think it's something where we should just clamp our heads in horror," he said of pedophilia. "In 1900, everybody assumed that masturbation had grave physical consequences; that didn't make it true." "These things that you're sure of," he added, "you really ought to check out and test."

Check out and test a little pedophilia? What a perverted view.

America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)

3 posted on 04/30/2002 3:50:50 AM PDT by JCG
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To: kattracks
In the article, an 18-page essay with 38 footnotes published in the Journal of Homosexuality, Dr. Mirkin argued that the notion of the innocent child was a social construct, that all intergenerational sex should not be lumped into one ugly pile and that the panic over pedophilia fit a pattern of public response to female sexuality and homosexuality, both of which were once considered deviant.

Further evidence that those who practice homosexual behavior are always seeking to recruit (molest) children.

(and BTW, the practice of homosexual behavior is still considered deviant)

God Save America (Please)

4 posted on 04/30/2002 5:27:42 AM PDT by John O
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To: kattracks
It used to be that a child's parents would be gatekeepers in that child's introduction to marriage, and thus into sex. Thus, children could be married at 16 or even 14 without putting them at risk from pedophiles.

How many states allow children under 18 to marry without parental consent? How many allow children under 16 to do so?

5 posted on 04/30/2002 6:44:04 AM PDT by supercat
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To: kattracks
Right out of Walker Percy's The Thanatos Syndrome and into real life.
6 posted on 04/30/2002 2:38:28 PM PDT by Dumb_Ox
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To: kattracks

Last week, the Missouri Legislature voted to cut $100,000 from the university's budget, saying taxpayers did not want to finance such perversity.

Today, in his office, Dr. Mirkin, 65, said through a sly smile: "The article is meant to be subversive; the article is meant to make people think. Because they have tried to stifle discussion, there has been a discussion, which is one of the healthy things about the United States."

Yet another wothless fool from academia who thinks that he has a right to taxpayer funds so that he can publish his absurd, and in this case perverse, rantings. In his mind cutting off taxpayer funds = denial of freedom of speech. He needs a real job.

7 posted on 04/30/2002 2:44:11 PM PDT by StockAyatollah
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To: StockAyatollah
Yet another worthless fool from academia...He needs a real job.

And a respectable one this time, like inner-city pimp.

8 posted on 04/30/2002 2:47:48 PM PDT by MarineDad
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To: kattracks
Mirkin on O’Reilly now.
9 posted on 04/30/2002 5:25:17 PM PDT by Clint N. Suhks
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To: kattracks
Dr. Mirkin, who grew up on the West Side of Manhattan...

As Pvt. Pyle would say, "Sooprize, Sooprize!"

10 posted on 04/30/2002 5:29:42 PM PDT by Senator Pardek
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To: kattracks;GrandMoM
On the Pedophilia Issue: What the APA Should Have Known

"More Recent Defenses of Pedophilia

Harris Mirkin recently wrote a lead article in the Journal of Homosexuality entitled "The Pattern of Sexual Politics: Feminism, Homosexuality and Pedophilia." Using social-constructionist theory, he argues that the concept of child molestation is a "culture- and class-specific creation" which can and should be changed.

He likens the battle for the legalization of pedophilia to the battles for women's rights, homosexual rights, and even the civil rights of blacks.

He sees the hoped-for shift as taking place in two stages. During the first stage, the opponents of pedophilia control the debate by insisting that the issue is non-negotiable--while using psychological and moral categories to silence all discussion.

But in the second stage, Mirkin says, the discussion must move on to such issues as the "right" of children to have and enjoy sex.

If this paradigm shift could be accomplished, the issue would move from the moral to the political arena, and therefore become open to negotiation. For example, rather than decrying sexual abuse, lawmakers would be forced to argue about when and under what conditions adult/child sex could be accepted. Once the issues becomes "discussible," it would only be a matter of time before the public would begin to view pedophilia as another sexual orientation, and not a choice for the pedophile.


The Problem of Pedophilia

11 posted on 05/01/2002 7:09:28 AM PDT by EdReform
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To: ethical;GrandMoM;erizona;FormerLib;scripter;Notwithstanding;Khepera;Yakboy;onesog;madfly...
Ping
12 posted on 05/01/2002 7:43:02 AM PDT by EdReform
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To: JCG
Check out and test a little pedophilia? What a perverted view.

I had to read the comments to which you're responding twice due to utter amazement. Reminds me of a Professor DeCecco at a San Francisco university who, about 10 years ago said pedophilia can be beneficial to the child.

13 posted on 05/01/2002 7:57:22 AM PDT by scripter
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To: EdReform
BUMP
14 posted on 05/01/2002 8:41:38 AM PDT by Caipirabob
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To: EdReform
Homosexuals don't reproduce, they RECRUIT.
15 posted on 05/01/2002 9:31:08 AM PDT by Travis McGee
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To: Travis McGee
"Homosexuals don't reproduce, they RECRUIT."

How about twenty parents with twenty placards ststing this in front of the school? Then call the newspaper and local tv stations to make sure they get it on tape.
16 posted on 05/01/2002 9:58:39 AM PDT by conserve-it
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To: kattracks
A simple quote from the Bible on this issue:

9 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin.
10 But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or who are greedy or are swindlers or idol worshipers. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.
11 What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Don't even eat with such people.
12 It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways.
13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, "You must remove the evil person from among you."

1 Corinthians 5

17 posted on 05/01/2002 9:59:43 AM PDT by Khepera
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To: EdReform
thanks, bttt for moral depravity in our schools
18 posted on 05/01/2002 10:07:09 AM PDT by wwjdn
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To: conserve-it
Do you think that you could find 20 parents who would do it? I doubt it.

It would be too easy to portray them as "intolerant homophobic bigots".

19 posted on 05/01/2002 10:07:23 AM PDT by Travis McGee
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To: kattracks
The chancellor here, Martha W. Gilliland, issued a strong statement supporting "the right to hold unpopular views,"

Yeah I wonder if they'd hire a conservative Christian to coach their football team...

20 posted on 05/01/2002 10:08:54 AM PDT by maxwell
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