Gratitude to Richard Dawkins

I saw "Root of All Evil?" last night and came away astonished. I cannot summarize this program. It simply must be shown in the United States, if we are as "open-minded" as we say that we want our children to be, if we are the free people that we like to think of ourselves as being. After all, this program is largely about America, and it is not a flattering view.

Let me just say that I am grateful--truly grateful--that someone like Dawkins, who has the inclination, the means, and the opportunity to make such a statement at this point in our world's crisis, has chosen to do so, and to brave the criticism that even some of his supporters have launched at him. Yes, he is "strident," but Dawkins is asking the questions that must be asked by somebody, in fact by everybody, and when he goes down in history for having made this program and for having written his books, I am confident that posterity will ultimately laud him as a man of principle and of vision.

It may be that there are dangerous times ahead. It may be that science is under profound threat, that we are even headed toward another Dark Ages, that expendable little people like me--especially an outspoken woman like me--could face terrifying consequences for our choices and our beliefs. (Note: Dawkins interviewed a man who favored the death penalty for adultery, whereas my man and I refuse to marry as long as homosexuals cannot.) It may be that all one can do is to stand up and be counted among the few, the brave, and the aware, against all this fear and ignorance.

Dawkins' bald honesty made me feel like a coward. I shall not be one in the future. Thank you, Richard Dawkins, and if I may say, though I tend not to idolize people, you are my hero.