Our society and form of government is based on free speech, be it in writing or orally. That right is enshrined in the First Amendment along with the rights of free exercise of religion, freedom of the press, and the right of the people to peacefully assemble. We enjoy the right to speak our mind, guided generally by a sense of propriety and civility. When that right is threatened or abridged, we all lose. When that happens, we can no longer stand fearlessly in a school board meeting to express our views, exercising the consent of the governed. We can no longer write letters such as this to make our opinions known. In short, we are all silenced.
Yet recent cases abound of violence attempting to silence people of differing views and positions. In 2020 a plot was foiled to kidnap the governor of Michigan; in 2021 a mob stormed the US Capitol and pipe bombs were found at both the Democratic and Republican committees headquarters; in 2022 the home of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives was broken into and her husband was beaten since she wasn’t home; in 2024 assassinations were attempted twice on a candidate for the presidency; in 2025 the official home of the governor of PA was firebombed during Passover, Minnesota state politicians were attacked and one politician and her husband were killed. And this week the founder of Turning Point USA was assassinated in broad daylight in Utah.
When anyone is denied their freedom of expression, freedom to hold a political position that may conflict with our own, when they can no longer enjoy the blessings of liberty, then we all lose those freedoms. It’s only a matter of time before we are all silenced.
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Attributed to Voltaire
Tom Wilson is a U.S. Navy veteran, retiring as a Rear Admiral. After moving to a farm in Butler township in 2012 he has been active in the local community, currently serving on the boards of WellSpan Hospital Foundation, Adams County Community Foundation and the Susquehanna Regional Transit Authority (Rabbittransit). He is a past two term member of the UASD school board. He was board president for five of the eight years on the board.