That’s why I didn’t quote the word “hero.” It was my word, not yours.

Civil disobedience, as we all agree, has its place. I don’t think that anyone is challenging that – and if they tried, people would [rightly] come out of the woodwork to defeat the assertion.

Chew refused to do something and is grandstanding for a particular agenda that, as you have said and with which I agree, is unlikely to have a positive impact. Counting Chew in that tradition practiced by too many important people to list is an unacceptably low bar for something we find to be an “important aspect of our history” and of “public life” in the US.

I think you accurately summarized, and quoted, what I wrote except for the important fact that
I don’t see the word “hero” anywhere in my post.

Nonviolent civil disobedience, whether or not I or anyone else agree with the goal, is an honored and critical part of our nation’s history and I suspect and hope it will continue to play an important role in our future.

Mr. Chew’s actions, even though I believe them to be tactically and strategically ill-chosen, do provide his students, his school, his community, and the rest of us a teaching and learning opportunity about this important aspect of our history and the role of civil disobedience in public life.

Larry