LETTER: Education teaches critical thought

I want to thank Commissioner Smith for dog-whistling my full government name in the paper again, last week. It’s always quaint to see it published. I also want to thank him for assuring us that his statements don’t represent the entire board. It’s a relief, to me.

I was taught from a young age not to trust everything I read on the internet. Thus, I have little patience for conspiracy theory nonsense. I did not respond to Comm. Smith’s “fascism or democracy?” questions because they were exactly that: nonsense rambled in bad-faith.

This is a good opportunity, however, to insist yet again how important it is to have well-funded public education. Education that teaches critical thought; how to handle proper debates; and how to question the “truths” that people take for granted. After all, two particular traits of fascism are seeing treason in disagreement; and condemning diversity as perversity.

Hopefully we can prevent the younger generations from carrying on the ignorance of the old. Until then, I remain in search of our God-given good senses.

William P.G. Tucker

Sanford