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Valerie Starr's avatar

Bonhoeffer has said the always been one of my heroes. We studied him in an adult Sunday school class in our Episcopal church. Our priest often utilized Bonhoeffer’s words in his sermons. Having watched a lot of movies, documentaries and television shows as well a significant reading the laissez faire attitudes about our autocratic president and the long term consequences of his policies is similar to and typical of the “you’re an extremist/socialist/worrier”. The let it alone attitude is in particular what raises Bonhoeffer’s fears. Thank you so much for this insightful piece.

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John Wilson's avatar

Maybe when I'm retired and thoughtful I'll answer the question differently. But if I look at myself and ask, "Are we still of any use?" I think my answer is yes. I took care of my family, spent time with my daughter and son today, showed kindness to those I encounter, reflected on where I fell short. I didn't get as distracted by the media noise from living as I did yesterday.

I'm a bit put off by the false dichotomies this article references. Arresting students who disrespect a campus by destroying its grounds and using them for unintended purposes does not seem an overreach to me. I don't care how just your cause is, this concept of protest (Camping illegally, trashing property, disrupting academic activities so you can shout in people's faces) should insult any free-speech absolutist, or American citizen. I should know, I am both.

The irony of "I made a donation to the defense fund for Mahmoud Khalil. But the question came back at me, even before the last click. Did I wish to make the donation anonymous?", as some fear-mongering nazi prophesy. Remember the far more real days when the woke mob was 100% more likely to form up loyalty assessment boards and send you off to social exile (because they didn't have a gulag, thank God)? I do. By all means put your name down, nothing will come of it except for the drama in your mind.

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