Radical Son. A Generational Odyssey

   The David Horowitz book entitled: Reconforming our Universities is well described by Barbara Banner. What appears to elude her is an insight into the motivation of the author. This is not her failing, but was a consequence of the author who seemed reluctant to reveal what made him tick. He seemed quite exercised about the issue of leftist domination of college campuses, but denied us an understanding of what led to his conversion from a left wing firebrand to rightist activist. Perhaps he felt that he had already bared his soul in his memoir Radical Son, published 13 years previously. In that book, Horowitiz appeared to be suffering a midlife crisis. His newfound identity was elicited by progressive alienation from his extreme left-wing background, crowned by the realization that the left wing heroes, the Black Panthers, were more deserving of derision rather than adulation.
 
   A midlife crisis is a questioning of identity and self-confidence that can occur in middle-aged individuals. Characteristically it consists of a change in attitude and direction of previously held beliefs. Accompanying this transition of beliefs is recurrent depression, anger and rupturing of previously formed relationships. In Horowitz’s case, there were serious depressive episodes, dissolution of 3 marriages and a change in beliefs from left wing ideology to conservatism. Consequent to his midlife crisis was further alienation from his communist father. His devotion to leftist causes slowly unwound following the Khrushchev report on Stalin. Both he and his parents began to pull away from communism as a result of these revelations. More importantly, his disillusionment with the Black Panthers was the culminating event in his departure from the radical left. He came to realize that these heroes of the extreme left were sociopathic murderers and not merely the victims of a racist society. With their rejection he rejected the entire left wing ideology that produced them. As part of his midlife crisis he rejected all aspects of leftist ideology, reserving his most angry venom for American Universities. He accused them of fostering of affirmative action and promotion of social courses at the expense of more rigorous material. His most venomous charges were the exclusion of conservative faculty. He argued for a student bill of rights protecting the rights of co enervative students. When he accused the universities of promotion of leftist faculty and causes, the schools were non-pulsed and refused to rise for the Horowitz bait. They were apparently suspicious that these charges were not so much about them but were a manifestation of a psychologically burdened man, struggling with his own demons. His pre-occupation with American educational institutions is not explained in either book. Perhaps, his academic background, having received a master’s degree at Columbia University and his authorship of numerous books is an explanation.

    Like other great tragedies, the book ended with a denouement of sorts. He rediscovered his Jewish background and re-united with his family. He buried his mother next to his father. His first wife’s parents were buried there as well. His sister returned from Canada to take part in the burial ceremony. Thus he came to peace with his entire family. However, he remained separate from his leftist upbringing, adopting an ideology, which favored elitism, rather than sympathy for the downtrodden. In this respect, he denied that aspect of his Jewish background, which was rooted in the poor shtetles of Eastern Europe.

Posted by Arthur Banner