The pic on the right (Geoff Crimmins/Daily News) is from this front-page story, which marked the beginning of this nonsense. I put it up because of this line in the letter below: “I look at the faces of the kids in the photos of Doug Wilson’s acolytes doing their flash-psalming (or whatever) and think, that’s where fear is — in those faces, as they try to mimic their misguided parents’ lack of respect for the norms of the community they live in. . .”

Look at that child’s face — he looks more miserable than his mother, whose countenance radiates obdurate ignorance. (Her sign generated a few letters to the editor; this one in particular is worth a click). Regardless, fundamentalism in general borders on child abuse. Kirk-style fundamentalism requires child abuse — just ask Steven Sitler’s son and the kirkers who affirm it.

This letter is full of gems, including these words — “fear autocrats” — which 400 souls in Moscow will not comprehend:

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Raising leaders to follow

One sentence in Otto Keyes’ remarkable anti-mask letter of Sept. 24 gave me particular pause: “Kids raised in such an atmo ‘fear’ will not become the future leaders this country needs.” Really? I look at the faces of the kids in the photos of Doug Wilson’s acolytes doing their flash-psalming (or whatever) and think, that’s where fear is — in those faces, as they try to mimic their misguided parents’ lack of respect for the norms of the community they live in, and for the health of society.

In general, you mask-resisters, why are you so exercised about this issue? Don’t you think your children might benefit from role models who speak out publicly against something of more consequence than temporarily hidden smiles on our neighbors’ faces? How about you teach them, instead, to fear autocrats, local and national, who flout laws, courtesy and common sense? Instilling that kind of healthy fear would be likely to produce a leader I’d be willing to follow.

Gary Williams
Moscow

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