The passing of John McAdams

[Mark A. Oblazney]

At

https://groups.google.com/g/alt.assassination.jfk?pli=1

as recently as April 14, 2021, John McAdams was still making posts to that forum. And seven threads had posts reviewed and accepted on April 14. But no posts have been made since then. It appears no one is currently running that forum at the moment. It appears that Dr. McAdams passed away suddenly and was doing fairly well up until his last day.

But his websites like:

http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/news.htm

and most importantly:

http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/home.htm

are still going strong for now. Let us hope they continue to do so indefinitely.

Good ol' John........ he was fun, too !!  Me and him and Ralph Cinque and Tony Marsh had a ball together at his website.  RIP, John.  A Good Life+

[W. Tracy Parnell]

http://wtracyparnell.blogspot.com/2021/04/tribute-to-john-mcadams.html

[Steve M. Galbraith]

http://wtracyparnell.blogspot.com/2021/04/tribute-to-john-mcadams.html

Nice tribute, Tracy.

I'm going to guess that as a Southern boy and staunch conservative (I'll say <g>) that his experience as an "outsider" at Harvard and then Marquette probably deepened his strong support for free speech, for the right to challenge conventional views, and for the right to hear heterodox views. He likely had some, let's say, interesting exchanges with his fellow academics at the Harvard faculty lounge. Marquette too. So he needed that right more than others. And came to believe in its importance more too.

That commitment to free speech, to expressing unconventional views clearly was behind his efforts on the assassination. As long as one was civil, you could promote whatever conspiracy view you wanted to. He'd not suppress it or say it was forbidden. As you know, he was critical of the latest efforts by "social media" and others to suppress controversial views. Sure, some of these views are just awful - who the heck is QAnon anyway? and really, Ruth Paine was a CIA conspirator? -  but the answer to bad speech is indeed more speech. That was clearly his view. And for what it's worth, mine too.

So while the conspiracists may celebrate his death (some of them are) they really should think twice about the party they're having. It's not John McAdams who was their enemy. Instead of celebrating his death, they should be toasting his support for their right to say what they believe.

[Jon Banks]

Nice tribute, Tracy.

I'm going to guess that as a Southern boy and staunch conservative (I'll say <g>) that his experience as an "outsider" at Harvard and then Marquette probably deepened his strong support for free speech, for the right to challenge conventional views, and for the right to hear heterodox views. He likely had some, let's say, interesting exchanges with his fellow academics at the Harvard faculty lounge. Marquette too. So he needed that right more than others. And came to believe in its importance more too.

That commitment to free speech, to expressing unconventional views clearly was behind his efforts on the assassination. As long as one was civil, you could promote whatever conspiracy view you wanted to. He'd not suppress it or say it was forbidden. As you know, he was critical of the latest efforts by "social media" and others to suppress controversial views. Sure, some of these views are just awful - who the heck is QAnon anyway? and really, Ruth Paine was a CIA conspirator? -  but the answer to bad speech is indeed more speech. That was clearly his view. And for what it's worth, mine too.

So while the conspiracists may celebrate his death (some of them are) they really should think twice about the party they're having. It's not John McAdams who was their enemy. Instead of celebrating his death, they should be toasting his support for their right to say what they believe.

I recall reading about his clash with Marquette University over Gay Marriage and Climate Change skepticism.

I don't agree with his Conservative politics but agree that the freedom to express dissenting opinions in Academic environments is important.

As far as Conspiracy researchers being "happy" that he passed, I don't understand why your opinion of them is so low.

I don't recall a lot of negative comments when Bugliosi passed a few years ago.

People can in good faith view the same evidence and reach different conclusions. Debate is fine as long as it's respectful and as far as I remember, McAdams was usually respectful with those he disagreed with. 

[W. Tracy Parnell]

So while the conspiracists may celebrate his death (some of them are) they really should think twice about the party they're having. It's not John McAdams who was their enemy. Instead of celebrating his death, they should be toasting his support for their right to say what they believe.

I agree completely Steve.

[Tom Scully]

Unfortunately, McAdams was raised in Jim Crow Alabama and it was reflected in his politics, including supporting Trump's racist policies.

DiEugenio and I recently have extremely different opinions, but I agree with everything he wrote in reply to W. Tracy Parnell in another forum. That said, I do not think it is fair to kick someone who is down.

Dr. McAdams approved the comments I posted on his newsgroup and when it was my call, I approved his comments on jfkfacts.org. My last comment submitted to his newsgroup was late on April 14 and I was surprised he approved no comments on April 15. I'm sorry to find out this reason, why. Rest in peace, John.

Dr. McAdams posted this reply to me. We developed an understanding. He was intelligent and well educated. Ironically, he graduated from Kennedy High School and taught there before going to Harvard grad school.
https://groups.google.com/g/alt.assassination.jfk/c/cAsvprrKbUQ/m/9K9YsZkCEgAJ

[Richard Smith]

Debate-wise, McAdams  was an expert at dissembling and deflection. His being raised in Alabama wasn't the only reason he was emboldened to support racist policies during the Trump years.

Maybe take the politics to the nutty anti-Trump thread.