(Copyrighted ©2003-2005 by Kristofer Dale unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.)
"Actions are more significant than words."
From Will and Doom, by Gersham Bulkeley
"Sir, it is pie."
From To the Person Sitting in Darkness, by Mark Twain
"If you intend to shoot yourself in the foot, best do it before sticking it in your mouth..."
- aszsa
Hmm, 'tis the season! This came by e-mail today, quite pertinent to the discussion at hand:The Word of the Day for Dec 15 is:
ad hominem \ad-HAH-muh-num\ adjective
1 : appealing to feelings or prejudices rather than intellect
2 : marked by or being an attack on an opponent's character rather than by an answer to the contentions made
© 2003 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
Curiously enough, I also noticed, on this date, an "update" posted in the merry month of May concerning myself, my friend Galen Knight, and my sister too! I respond thus:Evolution invests life with certain inescapable patterns that help define the function and promote adaptation of all creatures great and small. Take the lowly dung beetle, that industriously accompanies its precious cargo along its path through life, adding tidbits of excrement along the way toward the continuation of its species. Despite whatever thoughts it may have upon such matters as existence, truth, beauty, honor, "life, the universe, and everything", still it must dutifully jockey its payload and (hopefully) fulfill its destiny. Euoniticellus intermedius, AKA Dave Thomas of "New Mexicans for Science and Reason" fame, displays the phenomenon of instinct admirably; its very nature demands that it keep the ball rolling, so to speak, even should it be maimed or killed in the process! Witness the witless manner in which it persists, instinctively, in garnering derision for itself and its wisely silent partner-in-slime, the doubtable Harry M. Murphy. Which brings me to the dung beetle's latest additions to its odiferous orb, as quoted from the NMSR website.
First, we are met with the statement, "You shall judge a man by his foes as well as by his friends."
- Joseph Conrad
Insight from a remarkable author who won the admiration of the literary world even though English was not his native tongue. He wrote a discerning story, called Heart of Darkness, dealing with the intrinsic impersonal reality (or "horror") of existence versus the tunnel-vision and fantasy that civilization relies upon to maintain itself. Indeed, E. intermedius reveals its own modest heart of darkness by invoking Conrad's immortal words in this instance. To paraphrase this story-within-a-story's narrator, a sailor named Marlow, the essentials of this affair lie deep under the surface, beyond the dung beetle's reach, and beyond its power of meddling...
And now to the "points" comprising the outer mantle of our busy beetle's load, such as the false claim that I "demanded" it publish my rebuttal. In seeking to somehow impugn Galen Knight further, E. intermedius has seized, in its importunate haste, upon various "ad hominems" that it feels are somehow, unaccountably, detrimental to the scientific accomplishments of Dr. Knight and his professional opinions thereof. I respond to this absurd posturing, as quoted directly from the NMSR website as of this writing, thus:
' ' Point 1: Kristofer Dale is apparently quite confused, and thinks his first amendment rights to Free Speech entitle him to editorial control of the NMSR Website. They don't, as I've informed him. ' '
As to the claim that I am "confused", do not doubt for one moment that I have any reservations concerning my statements to the dung beetle regarding free speech. Astute readers might realize from the correspondence with E. intermedius that my purpose was to unveil the rich irony present in its refusal to include my commentary in its online "rogues gallery" of postings it feels comfortably superior to. The dung beetle simply does not understand the concept of freedom of speech, only the limited and contrived legal definition...
' ' Point 2: Our e-mail exchange turned rather acrimonious after Dale started hurling ad hominem slurs at Harry and me. It's my opinion that this exchange reflected very poorly on Dale's ability to deal with controversial issues. But don't take my word for it - read the exchange, and then decide for yourself. It's all on line at http://www.nmia.com/~barefoot/feedback.htm . (WARNING - this exchange contains profanity. Read at your own discretion.) Even though Dale has posted my private letters to him, without permission, and without telling me he had done so (I stumbled upon his site quite by accident), I have decided not to pursue any copyright actions at this time. Dale's words do him little credit, and reflect poorly on his friend and colleague, Galen Knight. "The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips..." - Proverbs 12:13. ' '
Here we have irony heaped upon irony. "Pie" indeed! Let's start with the first item, the subject of "ad hominem" attack. In my original response I pointed out, correctly, that when Harry, and subsequently E. intermedius, chose to berate Dr. Knight's scientific opinions on the basis of his use of the term allopath, they "cast the first stone", if the dung beetle will permit me a biblical quote in turn. While this is perhaps too subtle for such insects to grasp, it should still be fairly obvious to intelligent viewers that this is just another instance of a pot calling (what it thinks is) a kettle black. BTW, I would like to thank E. intermedius at this juncture for promoting my literary efforts, such exposure does not normally come so freely, and certainly not so fervently! Plus, the "profanity" the dung beetle refers to is its own, albeit quoted by myself in follow-up.
Then we have a further example in the dung beetle's retroactive privatization of e-mail, exchanged from the publically displayed address on the NMSR website, concerning my critique of NMSR's "review" of Dr. Knight's presentation. This sophomoric ploy, intended to cow me into retracting the publication of our exchange on my own website (after the cowardly dung beetle opted to not post it on the NMSR site) was unsuccessful. My quoting of the allegedly private communications constitutes "fair use" regardless under current U.S. law, as I pointed out to E. intermedius after it threatened litigation. And now we come to the final irony of this section, the fact that this self-proclaimed debunker of religious superstition must invoke scripture to hide its base and egocentric motivations. Not even dung beetles can have it both ways. I'll close with another gem, as heard on The Simpsons: "Prayer is the last refuge of the scoundrel!"...
' ' Point 3: Yes, Kristofer Dale and Galen Knight are friends, and work together to promote Vitaletherapeutics. For confirmation, visit this article from the Albuquerque Tribune, and hold your mouse over the second picture of Galen Knight (by the reporter's byline), and you'll see an image of Knight and Kristofer Dale salvaging radar dishes for herbal extraction gadgets.
http://www.abqtrib.com/archives/cancer/060701_cancer_canmain.shtml ' '
This "point" demonstrates the dung beetle's pathological tendency to make false statements. First, it intimates that holding "your mouse" over Knight's picture will somehow magically allow you to see the alternate image, instead of (duh) using the screen pointer. Then E. intermedius makes the claim that I am "salvaging radar dishes", although no mention of the word "radar" is present in the caption. There is no shroud of mystery surrounding the fact that Dr. Knight and I are friends and associates. What factual bearing this has on my critique of the myopic NMSR review of Dr. Knight's presentation is truly mysterious. As Eli Hertz stated, "The truth may not always win, but it is always right." Take heed...
' ' Point 4: It's not just me. Kristofer Dale is all over the newsgroups, "defending" Galen Knight, hurling insults and epithets, and being a general annoyance. Again, don't take my word for it - see for yourself:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl= en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&scoring=d&q=kristofer+dale ' '
This "point" is basically pointless, other than to demonstrate that the dung beetle is not the only insect I have come across in my search for intelligent life. At this point, I personally wouldn't take the dung beetle's word for anything; but wait, there's more...
' ' Point 5. Take a look at Dale's main web page, http://www.nmia.com/~barefoot/. See especially his rant at Albuquerque's mayor, and a respected judge, because a relative of Dale's did not receive special treatment. She was caught speeding, failed to rectify the matter, and was caught speeding again, causing her to miss a recital. For not supporting Celia Dale's "right" to break the law as often as she could, Kristofer Dale vilified Albuquerque Mayor Chavez and Metro Judge Nakamura as "Mindless Minions of Justice" in a "brainless bumbling bureaucracy." No, I'm not making this up! See for yourself: http://www.nmia.com/~barefoot/crapola.htm ' '
Here the dung beetle truly oversteps the bounds of its limited intelligence by engaging in generalizations that have no basis in fact. It is very telling, in that this salvo magnifies the duplicity and insincerity of the dung beetle's intentions, choosing this particular "evidence" as a paramount indictment of Dr. Knight's scientific position. E. intermedius' knee-jerk response to the e-mail I circulated, expressing my concern regarding the profound mediocrity that informs the public life of contemporary America, was quite predictable since I provided in it a mirror in which the dung beetle could readily view its own deficiencies. Furthermore, there are several false assumptions being presented as fact, starting with the statement that I was vilifying various officials because my sister did not receive "special treatment". It should be perfectly obvious that my social satire is highlighting the fact that discretionary leeway is all too often loosely exercised and poorly justified, the recent case of the subsequent release of drunk-driving suspects by NM state police, after being arrested by a federal marshall, being a glaring example. Only an insect such as the dung beetle would not know of New Mexico's history of repeat traffic offenders (including state officials) being given the "catch and release" routine over and over ad nauseum until their behavior became so blatant it produced public outcry or resulted in arrest for serious criminal violations.
Next, we have the erroneous claim that Celia was initially "caught speeding" when in point of fact she was cited for not having proof of insurance present in her car during a minor "fender bender" incident months prior to the recital. As discussed in my protest, when she attempted to present that proof to the metro court in a timely manner, she was told that her "paperwork" was not available, and she would have to return at a later date. Because she forgot to make the second visit, a bench warrant was issued, despite the fact that at no time was she ever uninsured, presumably the whole purpose of the insurance laws. So much for the myth that one is innocent until proven guilty. When she was subsequently arrested for speeding by UNM rent-a-cops, they chose to zealously follow standard procedure rather than explore the possibility that there was a breakdown (AKA SNAFU) in the system that resulted in an entire theater full of families and friends being denied their Constitutional "pursuit of happiness". Those witnessing their children's teacher, and in some cases mentor, being hauled away by a squad car in handcuffs were threatened themselves with arrest for "interfering" after offering explanation, character witness, and even substitute arrest, so that the recital could take place as planned at Rodey Theater on campus. Extenuating circumstances that insects like our dung beetle are ill-equipped to comprehend, but there you have it. The most delicious irony yet, is that E. intermedius completely misses the point of my dissent, being that such rampant mediocrity and stupidity is steadily destroying all that might still be noble, creative, and trustworthy in American life and discourse. I add that, to date, none of the gutless wonders targeted in my protest have had the nerve (or gall) to reply. To paraphrase (pardon my French), "c'est la guerre"...
' ' Point 6. If you, dear reader, had any lingering doubts about Galen Knight's rambling claims, consider this: Kristofer Dale defends Galen Knight by hurling outrageous insults, not by thoughtful scientific analysis. Kristofer Dale is Galen Knight's Friend. And, as Joseph Conrad said, "You shall judge a man by his foes as well as by his friends." ' '
Which brings us back to "doh!". Here the dung beetle displays a remarkable command of the obvious in pointing out that I have friends and foes both online and off. An intelligent and objective observer might realize that I am following in the footsteps of some truly great and authentic American originals by practicing my inalienable right as a native-born citizen to exercise my freedom of speech and express my dissent when and where I deem necessary. I am not a scientist, so I may be forgiven leaving scientific opinions to those scientists, such as Dr. Knight, who have the ability, skill and determination to coax nature into revealing its secrets. I count myself fortunate to benefit from their often hard-won knowledge, and offer my support in return. I also count among my friends and acquaintances many other accomplished and productive people who have supported me in kind.
Euoniticellus intermedius ' feeble attempts to rise above its foreordained station in life are thus far overcome by a primal instinct that compels it to forage ever dutifully, adding incrementally to its hoard of excrement as a hedge against an uncertain future and a turbulent past. From this simple yet effective example, we can learn much of ourselves, as human beings, with our complex but equally powerful instincts for survival, urging us to compete with others ever more aggressively and destructively despite the thin veil of civilization that serves to hide our animal qualities from casual observation. Lest I begin to sound too much like the close of an Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau episode, I will humbly quit while I am ahead. But please consider the possibility that even if life is nothing more than a cosmic joke, as currently demonstrated by our stalwart dung beetle, one must still "be there" to get it!David E. Thomas, thy name is hypocrisy...
Update 4/8/05: CONTROVERSY! (and apology)