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Michelle Styles's avatar

As luck would have it, I read Judge Robert Jackson's opinion on West Virginia Board of Education v Barnette et al (1943) this week -- these two quotes relate: 'Compulsory unification of opinion achieves only the unanimity of the graveyard.' and 'freedom to differ is not limited to things that do not matter much. That would be a mere shadow of freedom. The test of its substance is the right to differ as to things that touch the heart of the existing order. '

The right to dissent is the first thing to go when a nation stumbles down the road to totalitarianism -- Ed Murrow said this back during the McCarthy era and it remains true today. There are others besides the men you mentioned who committed suicide during the McCarthy era --Larry Duggan Director of the Institute of International Education in 1948 after he'd been wrongly accused of spying by HUAC. Richard Nixon who had led the unfounded accusations had to apologise for 'misunderstandings' after Sumner Welles became involved in Duggan's defence. Murrow never trusted Nixon after that.

It is that right to hold unpopular, eccentric and even to some offensive views which underpins freedom and democracy. It is the All except one principle of Mills. It is the 'What if I am Wrong'.

I am pleased you write the Cornfield and more power to your pen. Keep fighting the good fight.

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David E. Bray, Ph.D.'s avatar

I stand with you in this and I cried when I heard this story. I am a gay, white male educator as well and Richard’s ordeal infuriates me. I battle DEI and look forward to its impending death.

I’ve invited Miss Kike (the ungifted race-hustler) to come and debate me on her chosen ‘profession’ of nothingness!

Dr. David E. Bray

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