Word: lownes
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...Constant variations on the theme of "cultural exchange." A ballet here, a consulate there--what better way to attack mutual enmity? Lown's linkage with Soviet doctors can be considered a subset of this. Such a Samantha Smith approach to international relations is particularly attractive because it looks innocuous. It takes a pretty tough cookie to bring up the nasty issue of millions dead in Afghanistan when Mikhail offers us his best dancers...
...Unshakeable faith in the ability of education, intelligence, and popular agitation to "transcend politics" and "end the scourge" of the nuclear arms race. This is a personal favorite; also the one shown most glaringly by Dr. Lown. A typical Lown statement, reported in The Crimson: "We agreed from the inception not to be involved in politics because we wanted to work jointly with the Soviets...
...sentiment which really epitomizes ISD. It was made in response to the Kohl objection, consigned by several other European conservative party leaders, to IPPNW's selection for the Prize. These politicians objected because Dr. Chazov signed a statement in the '70s denouncing Andrei Sakharov for "anti-Soviet" activities. Dr. Lown has steadfastly refused to answer questions directly about his counterpart's role in this matter and other political activities; instead he has given several variations on the theme of "that's beside the point...
Taken at face value ISD is a truly powerful response to Lown's critics. He has simultaneously avoided answering the sticky political questions ("Let's keep to the point, shall we?") and has clasped about himself a kind of supra-political magic medical coat. He tries to tell us that Soviet actions in hundreds of areas don't matter as far as the arms race is concerned. If only we could take the issue of nukes aside and apply some good old American medical reasoning to it, it would go away. This is ISD in its really terminal phase...
...with little or no influence on Soviet policy. Witness a statement by Dr. John O. Pastore, the group's secretary: "We intend to use the receipt of the Nobel Prize to do more and actually affect both sides." This sounds great; but how to get the Soviets to listen? Lown himself experiences odd swings between proclaiming an apolitical stance ("above politics from the inception...") and admitting his desire to affect national policies. On the same day that he said the group was never intended to be political, Lown declared that he was disappointed with a lack of "success...