Kim:

I've been fortunate enough to be able to speak my piece
without getting into "trouble" (or at the least without
someone else's contrary opinions getting in the way of
me doing what I think should be done).

I understand that many people think they need to "hold their
tongue" under certain circumstances, but I still maintain
that to do so is moral failure, at least when speaking
out does indeed have some effect.

I worry a bit that the current atmosphere will indeed slope
down to the point when speaking one's mind _will_ get
people in trouble. It has happened before, and I don't
think it's all that far off again. Silence such as
you recommend only encourages those that _would_ like
to stifle all dissent (and I hate to say it, but that'd
be the powers that be in Washington right now).

"Watch what you say ... what you do", sez the maladministration. . . .

Cheers,

                         -- Arne Langsetmo