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Open Letter in Memory of Raymond B. Cattell From Susan Fraenkel-Cattell |
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I wanted to write something 11 years ago when the American Psychological Association announced and then delayed the lifetime achievement award to my father-in-law. The APA appointed a "blue ribbon committee" to research his past after racism and anti-Semitic accusations from two critics, Barry Mehler and William Tucker. A weak old man wrote a letter to the APA, defending himself, stating his beliefs, and declining this award. Then Grandpa Ray passed away at 92 years old, very discouraged and heartbroken by these accusations. Now, over 11 years later, the same two critics are still making claims, and I hear that Tucker is writing a book about Ray, though he never even met him. I can no longer stay quiet.
I met Raymond Cattell in April 1986. Rick, my husband now, took me to Hawaii to meet his father and stepmother. Our first day was spent on a beach where Rick proposed to me. When we arrived home to Ray and Heather’s house very excited about our engagement, they were both very happy for us. We all celebrated that night.
My first serious conversation with Ray was the next day, having lunch at a restaurant near his house. We sat on the outside deck, relaxing with a lovely meal, spending hours talking and watching the lagoon. Our conversations included over-population, race, personality and intelligence testing. He received me with warmth and interest. When he discovered I was Jewish, and that both of my parents escaped Germany in 1938/39, he was both compassionate and interested in knowing my story. He spent much of the afternoon trying to convince Rick and me to have children together. He was disappointed that we didn't want children. When we later decided to have a child together, he couldn't have been happier.
He spoke of the different racial traits in people, but always with respect, and in a very academic way. I have always remembered our first meeting, because he was so interesting, and I enjoyed our conversations immensely. I am easily and often offended by people who think one race is better than another and not once did he condemn or ridicule anyone in our many conversations that day or the many years to follow. I don't have any room in my life for racial intolerances of any kind. He saw differences, but believed in equal opportunity for all people of the world. He was also quite the feminist, believing that women should be competing with men in the workplace.
He was an "out of the box" thinker, so very interesting to me because he thought so differently than I. He didn't look at the world in an emotional way, the way I do, but rather in a very scientifically curious manner, much like my boys who carry his genes. He saw the world and society as many possible experiments, always thinking, researching, and evaluating. He was also very worried about the general moral fabric of our society breaking down. But never, not once in the years I knew him, did he offend me by denigrating any people of other races than his. He only spoke of racial similarities and differences that he saw and his knowledge of world history. The man created the first culturally fair intelligence test. He believed that everyone should be able to have a good education and that all children should be able to play. Since his passing a Cambodian school was partially funded by the foundation he left behind.
Rick and I married in February 1987. I acquired 3 sister-in-laws and a brother-in-law. I have been married now 21 years, and have not heard one word of bigotry from any of the family. They are more than racially tolerant individuals, but open minded and truly accepting people. Ray had a son-in-law of Hispanic descent, a daughter-in-law of Holocaust survivors, and another daughter is practically family with an Israeli professor.
People of many races and nationalities have been welcome in Raymond Cattell's home throughout his life. His family did not learn intolerances. They learned the value of education, and education is the foundation of tolerance. Education of other cultures is the beginning of understanding and acceptance. In their home they also learned good strong moral values. They learned to be kind to all life, to all people. Ray was open to listening to everyone, no matter what they believed. He also loved talking to anyone interested in his work, and didn't give a thought to what consequences may occur. Just because Raymond Cattell was interested in race, racial differences, and the racial science of the times, doesn't mean that he was a racist.
I have met plenty of racists, from my little town in Southern Illinois where I was raised, to the Catholic boarding high school I attended, and even in my art college in Oakland, California. It isn't hard to recognize a racist when socializing with them. I've avoided these people like the plague, and have made sure not to share my life near them. Ray was not similar in anyway to these people, to the contrary, he was a warm, open minded, and interesting man who opened his home and shared thoughts and ideas.
I have experienced Raymond B. Cattell as an academic, out of the box, brilliant man, finding even my opinions interesting and sharing many of his thoughts with me. As I said earlier, he was open to discussion with anyone, regardless of their views, thus leaving him vulnerable and an easy target for controversy and accusations. I am sad that some people in this world are trying to evaluate his beliefs without sharing even a conversation with him.
Thank you Raymond Cattell for passing down your amazing intellect and your quest for knowledge to my children, and providing my husband (your son) with the strength and wisdom to seek the truth, believe that all people are created equal, and strive to improve our world. May your memory be blessed.
With Loving Memory of Grandpa Ray,
Susan Fraenkel-Cattell, September 2008
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