The Service of Dissent
Just before Easter, a Montreal man, father of four and full professor at a university founded shortly after Harvard, was informed of his dismissal for speaking publicly about his scientific findings and opinions. He wrote a letter about this to colleagues, asking some very profound questions, which can be found in translation here. The following brief reflection on this story arose from an impromptu consultation by scholars from other universities, working either in the sciences or in various disciplines of the humanities.
All are convinced that what transpired, however significant for one man and his family, is of much wider import. A worrisome pattern is emerging, in America as in Canada, that requires sustained attention.
Here is the letter signed by colleagues.