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Subject: Re: Relevant text - Mon, 19 Feb 1996 14:15:53 -0500
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 1996 14:15:53 -0500
From: Christopher G Caruso <ccaruso@sas.upenn.edu>
Subject: Re: Relevant text
To: orgonomy@jefferson.village.virginia.edu
Sender: owner-orgonomy@jefferson.village.virginia.edu
Kenn Thomas wrote:
>
> >From Wilhelm Reich to Roger Baldwin of the American Civil Liberties Union,
> July 26, 1948 (in "Red Thread of Conspiracy"):
>
> "Freedom of speech and press are usually and unsconsciously being
> misinterpreted in the sense that irrationalism should have the same freedom
> of expression as rationalism, and that the lie should have the same freedom
> of speech as the truth. This misconception of freedom has led the European
> world into the disaster because the present human character structure is
> more afraid of the truth than of the lie, and more inclined to irrational
> than to rational reactions. If real peace and democracy should have a
> chance of growth, I believe, a thorough distinction between rational and
> irrational, truthful and deceitful human action and expression should be
> made, and that freedom of speech should not be granted to fascist lie and
> irrationalism, wherever and by whomever it is expressed."
This is an interesting quote, Kenn. I'm glad you posted it. I have
wondered about this aspect of Reich's later thought. My first impulse is
to chalk this up to Reich's growing reactionary/authoritarian tendencies
that surfaced in his later years. I think that this is understandable as
Reich was so disillusioned and disappointed that after years of
organizing for rational politics, the Nazis still came to power in
Germany.
But, let's explore that idea. If there was some way to guarantee that
those decision makers that would be deciding between rational and
irrational speech were truly "genital characters," completely free from
armor, then this might be a good idea. However, I'm not sure that I've ever
met a person who would meet this standard 100% of the time. Certainly, a
successful Reichian therapy is not proof that a person will never again act
irrationally. Reich himself did not live up to this ideal. It seems to me
that some people can have enormous clarity on some areas, and still be
operating under distress in others.
Since there is no way to guarantee a group of 100% rational, permanently
de-armored decision-makers, we must conclude that democracy is still the
most rational way to make decisions, warts and all.
--
Chris Caruso Check out: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~ccaruso/
ccaruso@sas.upenn.edu http://www.igc.org/fair/
Philadelphia, PA USA http://www.mcs.com/~jdav/league.html
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