Stein backs out
So apparently funny game show host, part time actor, bad economist and really laughably lame Intelligent Design apologist Ben Stein was recently scheduled to give the commencement address at UVM this spring. This would be an occasion for me to rise up in furious scientific indignation and demand that Stein be disinvited, except a certain eloquent biologist with quite a bit more clout than I has beaten me to the punch…
Dear Professor Dawkins,
As one who has been deeply instructed by your work and who applauds your scientific leadership, I was honored to find a personal email from you in my inbox, but very sorry indeed that the occasion was the decision to invite Ben Stein to be a Commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient. Although we have recently learned that Mr. Stein will be unable to receive the honorary degree here or to serve as Commencement speaker, please know that it was our expectation that his remarks would address the global economic crisis and that he would speak from his widely acknowledged area of expertise on the economy. We regret that he will be unable to do so.
With thanks again for writing, with admiration, and with every good wish–Daniel Mark Fogel, President, The University of Vermont
The good professor replies…
Dear President Fogel
Thank you very much indeed for your extremely gracious letter.
I cannot disguise my gladness that Ben Stein will not be going to Vermont. Thank you very much for letting me know. I wish you, and your great university all good fortune. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
With my very best wishes, and thanks again for your letter
Yours sincerely
Richard Dawkins
I think President Fogel should now invite professor Dawkins to give the commencement address instead. Who’s with me?
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Since 2004 Candleblog has been the online journal of Vermont filmmaker, Bill Simmon. Bill and his wife, Emily, use Candleblog as a repository of pop culture ephemera, amusing anecdotes, occasional deep thoughts and anything else they think is web-worthy.
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Ah, you just gotta love professor Dawkins.
And yes, he should be invited instead
please know that it was our expectation that his remarks would address the global economic crisis and that he would speak from his widely acknowledged area of expertise on the economy.
It would have been more honest for Fogle to say they wanted him to speak because of his role in Ferris Bueller because he’s a better actor than an economist and he’s not in any meaningful sense an actor.
Can’t people who have been wrong in a single subject for decades (say, Stein and the economy) stop being accorded respect for their “expertise” in said subject? Is there any way possible for them to be discredited in the eyes of people who pretend to be academics?
Here’s one example.
And here’s a nugget from an Oct. 21st 2008 column (h/t “nakedcapitalism.com”):
The economy is basically in fine shape. Not perfect, but darned good. Almost all mortgages are not in default. Almost all workers in the labor force who care to work are not unemployed. The largest percentage ever of American household units, what were called “families” in the old days, own their own homes.
And he’s a liar too.
You know, a committed academic like Fogle might try and figure this out.
I think someone should send President Fogel, Nobel laureate Dr. Krugman’s email, so that he can ask Krugman about Stein’s grasp of Stein’s ‘area of expertise’.
I’m with DougMN; when did Ben Stein become an expert on economics?
Knowledge of global economics? Per his NYT column a week ago, Ben can’t even teach his own son economics.
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