Renowned psychiatrist Robert Lifton to address Jewish medical professionals

By Deborah Moon Seldner

National Book Award winner Dr. Robert Lifton will speak on "Beyond Holocaust and Genocide: Toward a Humane Future" at an April 26 gathering for health care professionals.
A frequently sought commentator on Public Radio and Television, Lifton was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Awards from The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and The International Society for Traumatic Studies.
In a 2002 radio interview, Bill Moyers introduced Lifton as "one of the world's foremost thinkers on why we humans do such awful things to each other."
Lifton's Portland appearance was organized by Dr. George Drasin, who sits on the committee of the Maimonides Society of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland. The Maimonides Society provides social, educational, philanthropic and networking opportunities to health-care professionals.
"He has a deep understanding of human nature and the cause of strife in this world," said Drasin, who has known Lifton for about seven years. "Despite all the severe problems, he maintains an optimistic viewpoint on the future of civilization."
"As Jews and as citizens of the world, we see powerful forces at work in the world," added Drasin. "I believe Dr. Lifton can help us to understand those forces and how to deal with them."
Lifton is distinguished professor emeritus of psychiatry and psychology at City University of New York and lecturer in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.? He was formerly director of The Center on Violence and Human Survival at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
"My work is full of study or recording of evil," said Lifton as part of a "Conversation with History" series at UC-Berkley. "It seems to be all too frequent, all too readily called forth, and people all too readily socialize to it or are able to adapt to evil. At the same time, I've also seen the other side of it, survivors able to bring knowledge from their ordeal, recreate themselves with the help of others and with the help of love around them."
He is the author of 18 books, including "The Nazi Doctors: Medical Killing and the Psychology of Genocide," winner of a 1987 Los Angeles Times Book Prize and a National Jewish Book Award; "Superpower Syndrome: America's Apocalyptic Confrontation with the World;" and "Death in Life: Survivors of Hiroshima," which received a National Book Award.
From 1955, he has been conducting psychological research on the problem of apocalyptic violence.? Following Sept. 11, he undertook?a study of Islamist apocalyptic violence and American responses to 9/11 including U.S. leaders own apocalyptic tendencies.
Lifton is a founding member of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War which was awarded The Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 and has served on the board of directors of Physicians for Social Responsibility.
The Maimonides Society dinner will begin at 7 p.m., April 26, at the Multnomah Athletic Club. Cost is $40 in advance, $50 after April 21, which includes dinner, wine/beer and 3 percent for Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger. For reservations, call Julie Gliniany at 503-892-7417.