My good friend Michael Byrnes is outspoken, and most of the time I agree with him. So when I read recent letters here critiquing Mike’s opinions, I felt a response in order.

First, I noted that none of Mike’s salient points about Critical Race Theory (CRT) were rebutted with counter arguments. The writer chose instead to align Mike’s letter with other events in a form of “guilt by association” argument that left me wondering if the writer had read Mike’s letter at all, if he indeed had any substance to his reply or was simply exercising an “ad hominem” attack on Mike.

As others who know him would agree, I also know Mike is not a name-caller, and checked his letter to confirm he had called no one a Marxist ... as much as CRT is widely known as a neo-Marxist theory. Let’s check sources and keep name-calling out of the equation.

The only point these letters chose to refute was that abolition was an American idea, noting that Moses freed the Jews years ago. Perhaps so, but slavery flourished for centuries after until America’s bold example, one that continues to this very day. CRT refuses to accept this part of our history.

Nor is Mike alone in his concerns about CRT. At least eight other states are considering or have adopted laws prohibiting the teaching of CRT in its schools, including New Hampshire (a bellwether state) where HB544 would ban the divisive tenets of CRT and any other form of unacceptable bias, including white supremacy. The bill supports equal and fair treatment under the law.

This pushback against CRT is also alive in European countries, where governments are distancing themselves from the woke ideology now gaining traction in the Biden administration. Traditionally liberal France wants no part of it.

In the end, it is up to each Bristol Warren Regional School District parent to look closely at the tenets of CRT and its derivative in Generation Citizen now active in our schools. Parents need to decide for themselves if they want their kids learning a divisive agenda that replaces America as a great country with one of disparate tribes competing for power.

After full transparency brings to light what our schools are teaching, I believe we can find common ground based on the mutual respect and kindness we all agree with.

DeWolf Fulton
Bristol