THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN
Wednesday, April 17, 1991
Smith to 'sissy' Hayes: Let's share a beer
In his "Plain Talk" perspective Thursday about the Holocaust and Revisionism,
Professor Peter Hayes charges me with manipulation, deception, distortion, ignorance,
intimidation, nastiness, dishonesty, duplicity, maliciousness, tastelessness, the
browbeating of academics like himself, conspiracy mongering, promoting implausibilities
and spreading disinformation.
Hayes evaded the challenge of addressing content, however, so I suppose you could
say he failed the test. For my part, even when I collapse into a frenzy of ad hominem
invective, I try to retain some interest in content. But then I'm not an academic,
so what do I know?
Hayes expresses a fear that the real intention of people like myself is to "wear
down" people like him. I don't want to wear down Hayes. I want to talk things over
with him. The free exchange of ideas is invigorating, not burdensome. I should think
only sissies would find it otherwise.
I'll be going to Evanston soon and when I get there, I'll look up the good Professor
Hayes. I suspect that what he really needs is to kick back, lift a few beers and
get into a real-life relationship with a man about whom he has been told the worst
and suspects the worst but knows not at all.
If I miss Hayes, maybe I'll chat up some of his students.
- BRADLEY R. SMITH
Director, Committee for Open Debate on the Holocaust
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