Re: Goodbye and Thanks for All the Fish (Was RE: Anarchists andLeninists)

[Mark Lause <lause@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Historically, skeptics in America were called "liberal" for their
open-mindedness on the subject.  Their longest-lasting publication remains the
TRUTH SEEKER.  Writers for that publication included founders of every major
manifestation of the movement in US history--from the Socialistic Labor Party
to the Communist Party.  ...It has also included some of the most prominent
spiritualists in US history  ...and some of the most prominent reactionaries
(proponents of scientific racism, etc.)

Then, too, the loudest-mouth self-professed "skeptic" of my acquaintance wanted
to be a Fundamentalist minister but found being a "skeptic" equally gratified
his need to feel superior to the ordinary run of humanity.  When any of his
coworkers says something critical of the administration, he attacks it as a
"paranoid" and scurries off to the feet of the nearest administrator waiting
for a dog biscuit and a pat on the head.  They like to put him in charge of
things, because he does things like passes "ethical" resolutions that faculty
shouldn't sell unsolicited textbooks because it's stealing from publishers;
then he tries to stalk anyone he suspects of engaging in this "unethical"
conduct.  Last year, when I came up for review, he issued a 17-page circular
letter describing me as an un-American, an anti-America, commie, etc. and
recommending that I be fired rather than tenured.

In sum, those who call themselves a "skeptic" are often very selective in terms
of what they're choosing to be skeptical about.  If they're politically quite
conservative, they are likely still credulous on that crucial set of question.
And the rhetoric of skepticism can be as much at the service of power as that
of religion.

Solidarity!
Mark Lause

David Walters wrote:

> Actually these are healthy organizations. They represent what the Militant
> once wrote about them as "militant materialists" in as much a non- or a-
> political way as possible.
>
> The motive for some of these anti-magic organizations comes from
> professional magicians who see such bunk as a swindle of a legitimate art
> form.
>
> CSICIOP is helpful in they break down the religious nonsense about miracles
> and other hokus pokus (as opposed to legitimate hokus pokus of the
> magicians, our allies :). I better stop now and take my medicine. ..
>
> David Walters
>
> > Well, it's not everyday you see someone whine about
> > how unfair it is that people don't like it when
> > they're unpleasant. Usually people outgrow that
> > attitude by age 10.
> >
> > Incidentally, she did mention something that intrigued
> > me - CSCICOP (Committee for the Scientific
> > Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal). One of the
> > central bodies, along with Michael Shermer's Skeptic
> > Society, of the American skeptic movement.
> >
> > I myself have been involved with the skeptics'
> > movement for several years, and I'm frequently
> > disturbed by how leftist/progressive people are drawn
> > towards questionable alternative medicine practices,
> > "psychics," etc. Personally, I regard it like I do
> > religion - something capitalists use to focus
> > "anti-establishment"-oriented youth towards something
> > that really is not hostile to capitalism. As an
> > example, frequently alternative medicine users will
> > rant and rave against the pharmaceutical industry, and
> > they do have some valid points, but as often as not
> > the same pharmaceutical companies are producing their
> > "alternative" products.
> >
> > My question is, why haven't Marxists done more to work
> > with the skeptics' movements (in the US and
> > internationall)?
> >
> > Adam
> > (bracing for a flaming)
> >
> >
> > =====
> > Adam Levenstein                          cleon42@xxxxxxxxx
> > ICQ: 17125158
> >
> > And now, for something completely different.
> >
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