Raskin dedicated his opening remarks to both Rushdie and his son, Tommy, who he called “another unyielding champion of human freedom and dignity.” Although the two never met, Raskin said Tommy admired Rushdie and his work. It is an attack on not just this community, but on the worldwide project of democratic community.” “It is an assault on everyone’s freedom to think, to write, to create, to argue and to grow. It is not just an effort to silence one man and break one pen,” Raskin said. “The bloody assault on Salman Rushdie on Friday is not just an assault on one writer of exquisite imagination and moral power. By stories, Rushdie was speaking on the narratives of families, communities, and religions, among others. In 2006, Rushdie said that the ability to argue and debate the meaning of all stories allows for the growth of societies. This decision was made several weeks prior to the attack on Salman Rushdie last Friday in the Amphitheater.Ĭalling Chautauqua “one of the freest and most beautiful places” in the country, Raskin said the grounds are “a space of reasoned, passionate and nonviolent dialogue” in a world that feeds off of violent fanaticism.Įmphasizing the spirit of Chautauqua and its focus on freedom and progress, Raskin reflected on Rushdie’s definition of freedom. The lecture’s location was switched from the traditional space of the Hall of Philosophy for security purposes.
Raskin’s lecture, titled “It’s Hard to Be Human: The Political, Philosophical and Mental Health Struggles of Tommy Raskin,” explored the the philosophical and moral courage of Raskin’s son, who he called “a young man of extraordinary gifts.”
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