Dear Editor:

Most Americans grew up with the expectation that we could resolve our issues through tolerant debate and reasoned political horse trading. The idea that we should be tolerant of the ideas and opinions of others is so deeply ingrained in our national psyche that we find the mention of censorship abhorrent. Yet here we are.

To be fair, censorship in our universities has been around for a while, with the suppression of extreme right wing ideologies. This censorship has whip lashed to morph into the active suppression of an ill defined “woke-ism” to the extent that books are being banned and histories are being erased.

Most Americans have begun to recognize that these emerging authoritarian ideologies are an existential threat to the traditional American way of life. The aim of the “culture war” embroiling our country is the creation of a hegemonic Evangelical Christian, authoritarian culture as proposed with the heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” and actively being implemented by this administration.

Those who stand up to object to this seizure of power find themselves, not in a reasoned debate, but contemptuously attacked often being called “communist,” or “socialist,” and “Marxist,” even as these labels have no relation to reality.

We have seen that restating facts and evidence gains nothing in a debate with those held in the thrall of this populist reactionary tide. There is no argument, no evidence, no fact or reason that will shake those susceptible to the authoritarian fear mongering and angry rhetoric by anti-democratic forces in our society. Its like playing chess with a bear, you won’t win.

I am confident that this crisis will eventually pass, but not because it will disappear on its own, but because patriotic Americans will realize that inaction is not an option. This path forward to the restoration of the democratic values of our American heritage will not be easy or even clear. But we must muster the moral courage to stand up and speak out, peacefully resist, and support those people and institutions who share our values of a peaceful democratic society and the rule of law.

Fred W. Nehring

Boothbay