Cowardly, or just confused?

The self-humiliation of James Watson is brought into sharper relief by Patrick Buchanan who simply quotes Watson’s statements about African intelligence from his London Times interview and in his book; then quotes several of Watson’s British inquisitors; then quotes Watson saying “I’m mortified” and “I apologize unreservedly.” That this world-renowned scientist could not stand by the simple, obvious, incontestable statement that sub-Saharan Africans have lower IQs than other races, but instead felt compelled to abase himself for having said it, continues to astound.

In any case, Watson tarnished himself in two ways. From the left’s point of view, he tarnished himself with his comments on race differences. From the right’s point of view, he tarnished himself with his ridiculous and abject apology.

However, I continue to see what happened here, not as a Larry Summers-type fall from the heights of a man who naively believed in something (namely in the old-liberal ideal of letting all reasonable views be heard), but didn’t have the courage to stand by it, but as the confused behavior of a man who is unfocused and unserious, and, possibly, doddering.

—end of initial entry—

Jeremy G. writes:

Buchanan seems to be stating his own position that the inherent equality of all men is an ideological myth. Is this part of Buchanan’s continuing evolution on race? He contrasts Watson with European men of centuries past who were willing to die for their convictions. I wonder what would happen to Buchanan and his career if he came out on innate racial differences in an open and direct manner? Would he be able to withstand the ensuing onslaught from the left? If he came out in such a manner in a new book that wrapped innate racial differences and our immigration invasion together, the attacks from the left (so long as he didn’t crumble) would make the book a runaway bestseller and would contribute to a positive change in our culture at the very time that we need it the most.

LA replies:

It would be surprising if he went that far, but who knows? Remember that in the mid-90s he disagreed with The Bell Curve, making sentimental and appealing but inapt arguments such as that Sergeant Alvin York did not have a high IQ but was a great man. Nothing new there. When Muhammad Ali’s low IQ score was published, the unfazed Ali told reporters: “I never said I was the smartest. I said I was the greatest!”

Posted by Lawrence Auster at October 30, 2007 04:06 PM | Send