January 19, 2013

In defense of Paul Baker

Hello everybody,
I can't believe what I'm reading !
On The Education Forum, there is a thread started by David Lifton, titled "O'Reilly's Book (on JFK) has been green-lighted to be a movie".
Several members joined the discussion.
The topic changed progressively.
Apart from the fact that some members were their usual selves (Ian Kingsbury with his completely dull, empty posts, or Lee Farloser, with his arogance, his verbal abuse, his intellectual narrow-mindedness) I have noticed something of note.
One member stood out : Paul Baker.
I didn't really know him beforehand. I had not realized how good he was. I don't know if he knows me. I don't know what he might think of me. That doesn't matter. All I know is that he is good. Very good.
He is a sensible person. Clever. Reasonable. Logical. Witty.
He knows to separate facts from fiction.
He knows what science is.
In front of him, Jim DiEugenio proved himself foolish. He was litterally "punished".
Paul Baker's intelligent observations were met with ridiculous statements by Jim DiEugenio, whose legendary close-mindedness was there for all to see.
Well, all that is not surprising.
But wait...
Today, James DiEugenio broke the world record of bad faith !
He had the guts to write (I quote) : "I think this is it for me and Paulie. He is simply not worth talking to."
My God ! Don't make me laugh !
The truth is : that is a total cop-out !
James DiEugenio was afraid. He realized that Paul Baker was better than him. He realized he was being defeated. He realized he was losing. He had to find an escape.
Another person would have acknowledged they had been wrong. Not James DiEugenio, who will probably be remembered as the most close-minded JFK-assassination researcher of all times.
James DiEugenio could not handle Paul Baker. So he ran away.
He found the lamest excuse in the book.
Is that hypocrisy, or self-deception ? Or cowardice ?
Even worse : DiEugenio then wrote (I quote) : "And, to be frank, I don't know why the mods let him on anymore." !?!?!?!? In other words, if a member wins the argument, then he must be fired. If DiEugenio is right, his opponent may stay. If he is wrong, his opponent must leave.
That's James DiEugenio.
The problem is : he is always wrong.
At any rate, he should be ashamed of himself, tonight.

January 14, 2013

A good example of critical thinking versus conspiracy theories

Hello everybody
I recently found this very good video : a very good example of critical thinking applied to the Kennedy assassination.
(Close-minded people such as James DiEugenio should definitely listen to what the guy has to say. Unfortunately, they probably won't.)

January 6, 2013

Pierre Salinger (3)

Hello everybody,
I have uploaded a third and last excerpt of my 1993 interview of Pierre Salinger.
In this short audio file Pierre Salinger tells us about the Vietnam war and Lyndon Johnson.
I know fringe conspiracy theorists such as Robert Morrow won't like to hear that audio file. They think that there was a conspiracy and Johnson was in on it. They are wrong !
I really enjoyed meeting Pierre Salinger, who was a very nice person. In that excerpt you can hear my voice, asking the questions. It's clear that I am impressed and in awe, speaking very quietly.
Pierre Salinger taught me a lot. He was very close to John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Jackie Kennedy. He lived with them for years. His opinion : no conspiracy.
Neither David Lifton nor Robert Morrow ever met any of those people. And they claim they know better ? They should be ashamed of themselves !
(Again, I'm sorry for the bad quality : there's too much noise.)
Hope you'll like it.

January 5, 2013

Pierre Salinger (2)

Hello everybody,
Since some people seemed interested in the Pierre Salinger short audio excerpt of an interview I conducted in 1993 and asked for more, I have uploaded a second excerpt.
In this short audio file Pierre Salinger tells us what he thinks of Oliver Stone's movie JFK.
Again, I'm sorry for the bad quality : there's too much noise.
Hope you'll like it.
(I'll upload a third excerpt soon)

January 1, 2013

Pierre Salinger's story

Hello everybody,
You all remember Pierre Salinger, who was the White House Press Secretary to President John F. Kennedy, on top of being a personal friend of his.
Pierre Salinger had a long and colorful career that Wikipedia will tell you about.
When I was a young student beginning to research the Kennedy assassination I was able to contact him. We exchanged letters over a period of a few months. Later I was lucky enough to meet him on three occasions.
At the time (roughly 1991-1997) I was under the influence of David Lifton, whose book and VHS tape I had bought, and with whom I had had a long tape-recorded telephone conversation (in 1990).
I had also met Robert Groden in Dallas and owned his first book. Not having studied the case enough I believed in a conspiracy. Since then, of course, I have applied logic and common sense to the case and realized long ago that there was never any conspiracy and that Lee Oswald was the sole assassin.
Anyway.
Back then I was still a huge Lifton fan and confronting Pierre Salinger was the best thing that could happen to me. He was a very nice man.
Most of all, he was knowledgeable. I wasn't.
He was experienced. I wasn't.
He was mature. I wasn't.
He had been there. I hadn't.
He didn't believe that there had been a conspiracy. And he seemed unimpressed by Lifton's theory.
What he had to say about his experience with John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Jackie Kennedy was very interesting.
Not only did we exchange several letters, but I also had the honor of visiting him for a taped interview in London, in the ABC bureau, where he was the Chief European correspondent. He agreed to invite me to his office, where I stayed for a few hours. We had a memorable conversation. A few years later I again saw him in France, where he was giving a lecture. The following day I again talked to him in a railroad station where he was waiting for his train. Definitely a nice man, on top of being a man I admired, if only for having been a close friend of John Kennedy's.
I am hereby uploading an excerpt of the audio file I created. I have tried to digitize the sound from an old audio cassette.
We can hear Pierre Salinger telling us how he remembered that fateful day.
I find that excerpt very interesting and moving.
I thought I should share it with interested researchers.
I hope you'll enjoy it.