Blogs, blogswarms, rants, raves, and effluvia
- I first learned about Voices In Conflict from a column by Paul Rieckhoff at the Huffington Post. Rieckhoff is an Iraq War veteran and executive director of Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America. He was also interviewed for the Wilton Bulletin.
- Far and away the best blog coverage has come from MyLeftNutmeg.com, especially the diaries of saramerica (see also under Media), maura, ctpatriot and thomashooker. Saramerica also has her own blog.
- jhinde’s comment from MyLeftNutmeg reminded me that censorship and groupthink are nothing new in the Wilton school system.
- In what I think is his first public statement on the matter, Lt. Zach Alessi-Friedlander, the son and brother of the women whose complaints single-handedly resulted in the censorship, responded to Sarah Littman on MyLeftNutmeg by defending censorship in the cause of better research. And a further (and even more disturbing) response is here. Kudos to Littman and yes, even to Lt. Friedlander for at least attempting an open public dialogue. But bear in mind as you read the above posts that this is the same Lt. Friedlander who wrote an article for the Fort Drumm base newsletter last October speaking out about the importance of freedom in education. If you have read the the preceding links, do not read this one while drinking Perrier — it can be very painful when it comes up your nose.
- The National Coalition Against Censorship has joined the fight, posting a letter to the Wilton school authorities signed by Stephen Sondheim, Edward Albee, Christopher Durang, John Weidman, Marsha Norman, Doug Wright, John Guare, John Patrick Shanley, Tina Howe, David Henry Hwang, Warren Leight, John Kander, David Auburn, Lynn Nottage, Stephen Flaherty, Susan Birkenhead, James Lapine, Rebecca Gilman, Michael Weller, Theresa Rebeck, Gretchen Cryer, Donald Margulies, Joe Stein, Kirsten Childs, Emily Mann, Lynn Aherns, Stephen Schwartz, Lee Adams, Ira Levin, Nancy Ford, Arthur Kopit, Frank D. Gilroy, Jeffrey Sweet, and representatives of the NCAC, Connecticut ACLU, American Booksellers For Freedom of Expression, Free Expression Policy Project, People For the American Way Foundation Northeast Regional Office, Feminists for Free Expression, and the Youth Free Expression Network.
- David Isenberg’s blog broke the news about Music Theater International’s Courage In Theater Award to the Theater Arts II class.
- Firedoglake was one of the first to pick up the story after the Times article; too bad they got so condescending about the “kids”.
- I’ve been crossposting some of my thoughts at DailyKos.
- Further thoughts from Mad Melancholic Feminista and Rant Bastards.
- Ben Dubow, a fellow exiled Wiltonite.
- Aldon Hynes, who also posts on MyLeftNutmeg.com, from his own blog.
What they have to say for themselves
Coverage in the media (mainstream and otherwise)
“Voices In Conflict” on tour: performances, awards and reactions
“Voices In Conflict” cast and credits