What should be the rules for publication in the MAAM? We had a
submittal recently on the controversial topic of immigration. The
letter reflected a somewhat extreme view and our MAAM editor brought the
matter before our Executive Committee for guidance.
The ex-com discussions included the possible damage that could result if
passages from the article should be published out of context, maybe
outside of Mensa. A historic example from the Los Angeles section was
presented as a caution against the political/publicity consequences.
The Nazi/Jewish conflict was used to illustrate the sort of difficult
topics that could arise.
There was concern that opinions expressed might somehow be interpreted
as Mensa's rather than Mensans'. But Mensa claims to have no opinions.
It's stated in the MAAM and somewhat better in the Mensa Bulletin:
"Opinions expressed in the Mensa Bulletin or the accompanying
International Journal are those of the writers and are not endorsed by
any official Mensa body, for Mensa holds no opinions beyond its broadly
stated constitutional aims. These publications serve in part as a forum
for the exchange of ideas among Mensans, including provocative views
that may challenge the perceptions, opinions, values and tastes of our
readers."
How could this be misinterpreted to mean that Mensans' opinions should
be suppressed?