Having read "the damn book" and knowing the historical context of eugenics
that it falls within to some extent, I can say that your conclusion that
this "attack" is anti-Semitism is, well, absurd. According to historical
texts (see By Trust Betrayed - Gallagher, Vandamere Press, 1995; The Black
Stork - Pernick, Oxford University Press, 1996; Pride Against Prejudice -
Morris, New Society Publishers, 1991; to name just three texts that discuss
the matter), Germany credited the United States and its social darwinists
for its eugenics programs and philosophies and, given the history of social
darwinism, what it was used to endorse, etc., the philosophical ideas and
actions taken promoting eugenics to "better the human race" did not start
with nor, unfortunately, will they end in Germany (see recent press on
Albania, Kurds, etc.).
If Peter Singer and his ilk were merely producing rhetoric for rhetoric's
sake, one could dismiss his book as an academic exercise. However, this is
not the case. According to Singer and Kuhse's book, they not only produced
rhetoric concerning Disabled infants but also produced proposed
legislation, of a sort -- getting down to the nitty-gritty of how many days
a child could live before it would be illegal to murder said Disabled
child.
Now, I've no doubt the demonstrators were carrying signs equating Singer
with Mengele. And I've also no doubt that they have no real knowledge of
where Germany's programs and philosophies came from -- miseducation is,
well, weird that way. However, the bad analogies by protesters do not
change Peter Singer's work or what was stated by him in his work.
Judy Singer wrote:
> Alexa wrote in response to the article in the London Metro:
>
> > This is typical. Sounds like Peter Singer has been successful.
>
> as if Peter Singer was some kind of malign force of evil-rather than
> being a rather mainstream utilitarian philosopher.
>
> I hear that at a recent Harvard anti-Singer rally, there was an unusual
> alliance of Right to Lifers and Disability Activists carrying placards
> saying things like "Dr Singer - the New Mengele".
>
> For a while now, I've been thinking that the reason Peter Singer is
> being demonised,( and I believe, correct me if I'm wrong, that the
> impetus for all this started in Germany) is that a new generation of
> guilty germans is desperate to be able to point the finger at someone
> else. "See! The Jews are just as bad as we were. Maybe even worse".
> It's blatantly obvious, though no one will say it, that this is the
> reason why Peter Singer is being singled out above all else, and is a
> lightning rod for projections of Nazi guilt.
>
> As it happens just today I came across an article in Salon Magazine, at
> http://www.salonmagazine.com/books/it/1999/07/02/philosopher/index.html
> which confirms me in my hypothesis, though the author stops short of
> naming the anti-semitic undercurrents:
>
> But consider this quote:
>
> ." The general message [of the demonstrators] : Singer is an arrogant,
> elitist intellectual who has come to America to poison the minds of our
> Ivy League youth. The protesters called him a killer, a Nazi, a hater
> and, perhaps most telling of all, a snob. "
>
> Now where have I heard this stereotypic profile before, I wonder? Except
> with a new enhancement - it seems that there is nothing so delightful
> for people who can't deal with their own guilt as to pass the mantle of
> Nazism to as many Jews as possible. Talk about projection!!
>
> And finally, if you're going to villify Peter Singer, at least read his
> damn book!
>
> Judy Singer
--
Carolyn
check out, "Passing, Invisibility and Other Psychotic Stuff" at
http://www.tell-us-your-story.com/_disc68r/00000003.htm
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