Censorship

[Michael McConnell]

Sandy Levison writes:

> I agree with Rick that Steve Gilles's article is very fine indeed.  I don't
> think I have much problem with the quoted passage.  The rabbit in the hat,
> though, is the notion of "reasonable" educational choices.  Is a member of
> the Identity group "reasonable" in teaching his/her child that the
> government of the United States is in the control of a Zionist conspiracy
> and that the question is simply when, rather than if, the armed struggle to
> "take America back" must begin?  I have no doubt whatsoever that Rick does
> not subscribe to such views.  The question is which of those views that we
> disagree with are we, nonetheless, willing to call "reasonable."

This is the time to invoke all the skepticism about
anecdotes and stereotypes that the "Timmy" story brought
forth. I want to know how may people teach drek of this
sort, and what the effect is on their children. (It could
be to make them especially sensitive to intolerance. I
often recall the genteel anti-Catholicism that part of my
upbringing.) School choice was beaten down in
California partly by teacher's union-funded commercials
depicting schools run by Ku Kluxers--even though no
such institutions exist.

Then I want to know whether solving this problem will
justify the regime of censorship that would be entailed if
we tried to solve it.
-- Michael McConnell (U of Utah)