In the conversation with Rebecca
DeWitt, (Perspectives, Spring 2001, Interview with Diva
Agostinelli Wieck), I inadvertently proved my point about the
unreliability with oral history. In talking about the person who
made disparaging remarks about the old Why? people, I let anger
overcome good sense. My remarks are obviously speculation and I
should have said so. I do not know why, nor do I have any hard
facts therefore I should not have said what I did.* Yet I do
speculate as to why a person would say untrue things and mean
spirited things about his former comrades. I also will say that my
‘negative” attitude towards history is not meant to disparage
the really good work done by Avrich and others - only that we add
the proverbial bit of salt.
~ Diva
Agostinelli Wieck
*
[Note: Diva said that
an old comrade, quoted in Paul Avrich’s Anarchist Voices,
was indirectly attempting to justify the fact that he liked
serving in the US army by claiming that the Why? Group was not supportive of those who
enlisted in the army or did not avoid the draft during WWII.]