Lee Elci may consider my words as mere outrage, much as Twitter users shame others for the 280 characters that they presume uphold white supremacy or patriarchal standards. However, I take high offense to his claim that liberals and leftists do not have reasoned, civil discussions with their contrarians. Bill Maher does this on a weekly basis on his HBO show, Real Time, inviting conservative commentators, including Ann Coulter and Ben Sharpio. Jonathan Hadit's non-profit Heterodox Academy is dedicated to viewpoint diversity on campuses across the country. And publications like Areo and Quillette promote academic takes from all points on the political spectrum. 

The problem then lies in Elci's own inability to engage in dialogue with his opponents without being condescending or closed-minded himself. I would like to see him engage in his own preachings and invite left-leaning figures on his own show. Take a leaf out of Joe Rogan's book, so to speak, or Maher’s, or Hadit’s. 

There are still many left-leaning people like myself who believe that free speech is paramount to a progressive, diverse society. Discussion, comedy, art, and Elci’s own commentary are just as vital as ever for our democracy to continue functioning. 

Bryan Mitchell

Groton