[Peace-discuss] Gottheil response - DI 4/28 (Monday)

[msimon at uiuc.edu]

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Had The Daily Illini sent a reporter to cover the talks given 
at the Students for the Defense of America "teach-in," it 
would never have printed the unmitigated trash that Mike 
Simon wrote (Friday, April 25) about the event.  My 
talk, "Failed Societies and Modern Technology: A Dangerous 
Mix," had little to do with Simon's claptrap.  I offered the 
view that societies open to modern technology, modern ideas 
and that participate in world markets succeed while those who 
choose to shut out modernity fail.  That was the core of my 
talk.  The empirical evidence supporting this view is 
overwhelming.  Either Simon could not follow the argument or 
simply didn't care what was said because he had his attack 
already written for a talk that wasn't given.

I did not mention the race issue.  The race card was played 
by Simon alone in the Q and A.  He portrayed African 
Americans as leftists and at odds with American values.  By 
leftists, he implied his brand of radicalism.  I thought his 
comment was rather insulting.  I responded by saying that 
African Americans fought side-by-side with other Americans to 
defend this country and were as loyal to this country as were 
any white Americans or Americans of any color.

I've been in this situation many, many times.  When you 
oppose extremists of the left or of the right, be prepared.  
They are typically energetic, live for the opportunity to 
defame, distort and denounce.  It's their and our democratic 
privilege.  But, frankly, it could also be exasperating.

Fred Gottheil 
University Professor