A Short Statement on Friday’s Attack at Chautauqua Institution

 

A Short Statement on Friday’s Attack at Chautauqua Institution

 

Michael Field

August 14, 2022

 

At the beginning of the season, a lecturer referred to the Chautauqua experience as “America at it best!” On Friday, the Amphitheater was the site of “America at its worst!” Salman Rushdie was practicing freedom of speech when he wrote Satanic Verses, despite living in a theocracy which didn’t, and still doesn’t, recognize that freedom or other basic human rights. He was practicing it over 30 years later when, despite still being under the threat of death from a religious fatwa, he took the stage at the Amphitheater. The armed assailant attacked fundamental freedoms and values while inflicting grievous bodily harm. May Mr. Rushdie and Mr. Reese recover swiftly from the damage to their persons, may Chautauqua emerge stronger from the attack on its values, and may America recover from all who would do it harm.

Reflection on today’s events in Chautauqua, NY

 

Several weeks ago, as reported by a friend who was there, a speaker looked out at the hundreds in the Chautauqua Amphitheater who had trekked to the remote, Northwest corner of New York state to begin a week of discussions on the topic, “What Should be America’s Role in the World?” As the growing heat of the summer morning yielded to the cooling breezes wafting in through the open sides of the iconic 1893 structure, the speaker characterized those gathered as "America at its best!" This quip is a bit of hyperbole; however, it is not that far from the truth considering Chautauqua is a community dedicated to celebrating knowledge and civil discourse in an idyllic setting. 

 

A few weeks ago, my wife and I were part of that community. We were in that space, a holy space where ministers and priests conduct worship, and where, after a quick set change, intellectuals take the stage to discuss pressing issues of the day. We were there for two weeks of lectures and discussion; we were there as continuous learners always seeking to know more; we were there as Americans doing our civic duty to gain the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions on those pressing issues affecting us all.

 

Today, that same stage was the site of “America at its worst!” As Salman Rushdie was being introduced to the Chautauqua community, an armed assailant rushed the stage and attacked the noted author with a knife. Mr. Rushdie was practicing Freedom of Speech when he wrote Satanic Verses, despite living in a theocracy which didn’t, and still doesn’t, recognize Freedom of Speech or other basic human rights. He was practicing Freedom of Speech over 30 years later when, despite still being under the threat of death from a religious fatwa, he took the stage at the Chautauqua Amphitheater. As another friend who was there said, it was a “Horrible, horrible, horrible . . . heartbreaking event.” She added, “numerous Chautauquans jumped onto the stage to try to stop the perpetrator; several doctors and nurses in the audience stayed with Rushdie till the ambulance arrived.”

 

The latest reports are that Salman Rushdie, on a ventilator, will survive, but he has been grievously wounded. The Chautauqua community is resilient and will continue to be a platform for open discussions, but its status as an idyllic place has been grievously wounded. I am worried that America, though, is brittle. There are not enough platforms for discussion and violence threatens those few that do exist. There are not enough Americans who take the time to be well-informed on the issues. Where is the next generation of Salman Rushdie’s who will speak truth to power, even under the threat of death for doing so? Where are those who will eschew the echo chamber of social media for civil discourse on a soapbox in the public square? Where are the Americans who will be the role models for the world going forward?