Dear Linfield Community,
Events this past week call into question whether the grand experiment we call the United States of America can continue to stand. Can we survive, as a nation, when a white man in Kentucky failed to gain access to a black church, then goes to Kroger and shoots two black people? Can we survive as a nation when a man sends pipe bombs to those who disagree with his political philosophy? Can we survive as a nation when a man goes into a synagogue and murders 11 people because they belong to the Jewish faith?
My unequivocal refrain is; “yes we can.” In fact, we must; for it is only light that drives out darkness. We cannot give into those who would terrorize us and make us afraid. The incidents of the past week did not occur in proximity to Linfield, but we have a role to play in moving the nation forward. While we offer up prayers and well wishes for healing, we must put practices into place that promote civil discourse and allow us to disagree with each other without resorting to physical or verbal attacks.
Linfield is and will continue to be a place that encourages reasoned debated and supports diverse perspectives. Linfield will continue to be a place where we engage in “thoughtful dialogue in a climate of mutual respect,” and “inspires the courage to live by moral and spiritual principle and defend freedom of conscience.”
We at Linfield will continue to lead the way for those who wish to know how to connect “learning, life, and community.”
—Miles K. Davis Ph.D.
President
