DearFriends and Neighbors,
The voice of dissent is essential to a free and vibrant democracy. It should be embraced and treated with respect not ridiculed and marginalized.
Here are a few stories about some brave people who held and expressed opinions that were against those commonly or officially expressed at the time. They did so by putting their own personal well-being at risk.
- Betty Little: The Burn Plant
- John Adams: The Defense of British Soldiers
- Winston Churchill: The Case against Appeasement
- Atticus Finch (fiction): In Defense of Tom Robinson
- Emma O’Reilly: The fall of a Golden Boy
In some cases there was personal bullying and abuse from the authorities or powerful people. In other cases there was widespread public opposition to their actions. What they have in common is all of these people stood up for their convictions, and over time were proven right and just.
1) Betty Little – The Warren Washington County Burn Plant
Betty was elected to the Warren County Board of Supervisors as a Queensbury Supervisor-at-large in 1986. While on the board she either served as the only woman or with one other woman. Betty’s reputation grew. She was a smart and conscientious board member. She read documents and contracts. She asked tough questions. She voiced her opinion. For her efforts she had strong support in the community.
It was on a Friday when the contract for the burn plant was handed out to supervisors. They had the weekend to review it. Betty took it home and read it; came back the following week to speak out against it and voted no.
In a June 7, 2013 editorial The Post Star wrote, “Sen. Elizabeth Little, R-Queensbury, was a Warren County supervisor who opposed the trash plant. She is in the unique position of having a front-row seat for her colleagues bullying.” She had committee assignments taken away. The Post Star editorial went on to say “The action was a horrible abuse of power. We hope Sen. Little uses that experience to get this legislation passed.” [Betty said to me, “They made me the Chairman of the Beautification Committee“]
The editorial discussed a bill to strengthen existing anti-SLAPP legislation in New York. Anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) protect people who speak out against public/private projects. SLAPP lawsuits are brought by a person or entity with extensive resources to harass government officials, groups and citizens who are speaking out against a government action. In many cases people back down because they don’t have the financial resources to fight a lawsuit.
Note – please read the March 22, 1992 Schenectady Gazette article: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1960&dat=19920322&id=N1dGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A-gMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4902,5345457
Over the past week, I’ve read a number of reports on the burn plant. It is a troubling chapter in county government involving lawsuits and tens of millions of dollars in losses.
Betty, of course, was right to speak out and vote no to the burn plant. So was Essex County who backed out before the contract was signed. Easton Supervisor R. Harry Booth in his first year in office was the lone vote against it in Washington County. Hundreds of people in the community rose up and spoke against it.
Yet the burn plant went forward. Reports state over $100 million in cost when looking at construction, interest, operation and maintenance. Steve Lynch a consultant hired by the Warren-Washington IDA said “taxpayers have paid $60.1 million to cover shortfalls.”
Sources: The Post Star, The Hill Country Observer, The New York Times, The Albany Business Review, The Sunday Gazette, www.Leagle.com
2) John Adams – The Defense of the British Soldiers
On March 5, 1770 Boston was covered with snow. It was cold and the roads were icy. A crowd gathered in front of the custom house taunting British Soldiers. They hurled debris at them – stones, sticks, snowballs, ice chunks, oyster shells – the soldiers opened fire. 5 men were killed. This was the Boston Massacre.
Samuel Adams called the killings a “bloody butchery” and a print distributed by Paul Revere presented it as a “slaughter of the innocent.”
John Adams was asked to defend the British soldiers. No one else would take the case. Adams said “that no man in a free country should be denied the right to counsel and a fair trial …” In doing so he feared for the safety of his family. As a result he lost more than half of his law practice.
Adams presented a case of self-defense as the “primary canon of the law of nature.” “Facts are stubborn things,” he told the jury, “and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictums of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”
The British Captain in charge was found not guilty. Six soldiers were acquitted and two soldiers were charged with manslaughter. Over time John Adams was more respected than ever for his fierce integrity and fairness.
Source: John Adams by David McCullough (pages 65 – 68)
3) Winston Churchill – The Case against Appeasement.
Below is an excerpt from Martin Gilbert’s biography on Winston Churchill:
In the five days since Chamberlain’s return from Munich there had been great public rejoicing, most visible in the enthusiasm of the crowds which welcomed Chamberlain back from Munich. Churchill (1938 in the House of Commons) referring to this jubilation:
I do not grudge our loyal, brave people … the natural, spontaneous outburst of joy and relief when they learned that the hard ordeal would no longer be required of them at the moment; but they should know the truth.
They should know that there has been gross neglect and efficiency in our defenses; they should know that we have sustained a defeat without a war, the consequences of which will travel far with us along our road; they should know that we have passed an awful milestone in our history, when the whole equilibrium of Europe has been deranged, and that the terrible words have for the time being been pronounced against the Western democracies:
‘Thou art weighed in the balance and found wanting.’
Churchill was condemned by many for his negative remarks. In his home district he received “vociferous local criticism.” Yet he was not without his strong supporters who urged him to carry on with his message. Two years later he would become Prime Minister.
Source: Churchill: A life by Martin Gilbert
(4) Atticus Finch – In Defense of Tom Robinson.
“I wish Bob Ewell wouldn’t chew tobacco,” was all Atticus said about it. According to Miss Stephanie Crawford, however, Atticus was leaving the post office when Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat on him, and threatened to kill him.
The great American Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Harper Lee explores prejudice and injustice in 1932 Alabama through the eyes of a six year old girl “Scout” and her noble father Atticus Finch.
Source: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
5) Emma O’Reilly – The Lance Armstrong Doping Scandal.
Like many American’s who don’t pay much attention to the sport, I was a big fan of Lance Armstrong. Seven time winner of the Tour de France. Cancer survivor. Yellow wrist bands. Then there were the rumors of doping and drug use. Cheating. I didn’t want to believe it. America did not want to believe it.
After the truth came out, I happened to catch a story about the woman whose testimony was essential to exposing the truth. Her name is Emma O’Reilly. Her testimony cost her dearly. Armstrong sued her. She was accused of being an alcoholic and a prostitute. She was ostracized. Her life became a hell. She never backed down.
Years later Lance Armstrong apologized to Emma O’Reilly on Oprah Winfrey. He admitted she was “run over” and “bullied.” He now says she was telling the truth. Emma O’Reilly after years of turmoil was finally vindicated.
Source: http://www.oprah.com/own/Lance-Armstrong-Confirms-Emma-OReillys-Claims-Video#ixzz3QDiOq4Wi
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The five people above (one fictitious) offer all of us lessons to remember. Their stories should never be forgotten.
The genius of our form of government through the protection of civil liberties and free speech is that citizens have an important role in government decisions. Thomas Jefferson said, “Whenever people are well informed they can be trusted with their own government.”
In many cases the voices of dissent are the ones who are informing the people.
In the late 1980’s Melody Mackenzie-Brown spoke against the controversial burn plant. She and hundreds of other people were sued by the government. “You think that it’s your civic duty. It’s the right thing. Then, three weeks later, you could stand to lose your house and your car,” she said.
We need to protect these people. We need to respect the voices of dissent.
Mark Westcott