“My son Tommy, a young man of extraordinary gifts, a born moral philosopher, a comedian, a playwright, a prankster, a champion of human rights, an anti-war activist, a vegan, a visionary, a second year student at Harvard Law School when we lost him, a jazz musician,” Raskin said, “was born into this world of violence, trauma, plague and unreason.” Raskin said his son was one of these people.
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“… We send Salman the strength and love of a resilient democratic America that knows how to think and read and write and feel without committing violence against other human beings.”Įven though the present moment is one of struggle, violence and trauma, there are people who defy these problems through their very existence. “We wish Salman Rushdie a speedy and complete and total recovery, because we love him and we need him,” Raskin said. 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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