Beard of the Week LXXXVII: The Amazing Randi
This week's magnificent, brilliantly white beard belongs to James Randi, aka "The Amazing Randi". I like this succinct summary from his official biography (bio & photo source):
James Randi is a retired professional magician (“The Amazing Randi”), author, lecturer, amateur archaeologist/astronomer. Born in 1928 in Toronto, Canada, where he received his high school education. He was naturalized a U.S. citizen in 1987, and now lives in Florida. He is single.
Of course, many of us know Randi in his post-Amazing days when he is still amazing, working tirelessly as one of the world's leading skeptics helping to save the world from mysticism, superstition, and unscrupulous charlatans. When it comes to unmasking the tricks of the world's cheats, Randi's career as an extraordinary magician gives him lots of credibility. I'm thinking that I first encountered Randi, probably on "The Tonight Show" (with Johnny Carson), showing how the then popular Uri Geller "bent" spoons and keys with "psychic energy".
Anyway, the world is a better place for rational living thanks to Randi and the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). Although no one has yet successfully taken him up on his offer–no surprise!–for some year's he's extended his "$1 Million Challenge" (application):
I, James Randi, through the JREF, will pay US$1,000,000 [One Million Dollars/US] to any person who can demonstrate any psychic, supernatural or paranormal ability under satisfactory observing conditions. Such demonstration must take place under the following rules and limitations [given in the application]….
Anyway, this past week James Randi did something utterly banal yet still amazing: he came out as a gay man. You can read his statement here: "How To Say It?" (Swift [the JREF blog], 21 March 2010). He starts this way:
Well, here goes. I really resent the term, but I use it because it’s recognized and accepted.
I’m gay.
Okay, perhaps he still has a few personal issues to confront, but that's normal for anyone who has just come out. It's the odd phenomenon that no matter how much one tries to imagine and visualize the moment beforehand, there are still issues to take up only after one actually does it. Well, now he's done it and I hope he feels much better for it — it's difficult not to.
His statement is good to read for any number of reasons. Let's remember that Randi was born in 1928 and a lot — more than a lifetime's worth, I'd say — of change has taken place surrounding the lives of homosexuals. But it's also compelling to have a cool, rational, analytical statement from a man who's just coming out at the age of 82.
He says that the immediate prompt to making his statement was having seen the film "Milk", about the life of Harvey Milk. I can imagine why. He also says that he has seen things change around him so much that he feels there is now, with some exceptions, a very healthy acceptance. I believe I can also imagine other reasons why now was the time, or rather, why it just couldn't seem to wait any longer.
It's not a question, I must say, that really came into my mind, whether Randi is gay. Had I been asked I expect I would have simply assumed that he was. I tend to assume people are gay until I find out otherwise (it feels to me like parity of social convention to do so) and besides, he's just too fabulous to be straight.
And isn't it unremarkable just how little remark has been made. His blog posting, not surprisingly, has hundreds of good wishes from supporters and I've seen mention of his statement here and there, but were there blaring headlines? No, it seems that a period of "healthy acceptance" may indeed be upon us.
As banal and utterly unremarkable as one might hope coming out has become, it's still an amazing accomplishment for someone whose life trajectory started in such a very, very different place and time.
Congratulations, Randi!