It was something we thought could never happen at Chautauqua–a speaker being attacked on the stage just prior to a lecture by a person with a knife. But, it happened and now we must live with its fall-out.

My first reaction was outrage. How could anyone do this? But then, with all of the other senseless violence we have seen–like the shootings earlier this year in Buffalo–it makes you realize that we, in our little corner of the world, are not immune from what is happening in the wider community. If it could happen here, in probably the safest, most collegial and open speaking venue in our country, Chautauqua–it can happen anywhere.

My second reaction was that it was likely that the perpetrator of crime had been radicalized in some way by the old (we thought forgotten) “fatwah” issued by the Ayatollah in Iran 30 years ago when he called for Salman Rushdie’s death. According to reports, Rushdie himself had finally brushed that off and had returned to living a more normal life. However, the Chautauqua attack shows again that venality, vile threats and hate have a long life.

Yet, our more long-term reaction must be: “How will civilized society, in what we know as Chautauqua Institution, be affected by this act of violence?” Good, well-intentioned, God-fearing, moral, law-abiding citizens cannot let our institutions under free government become totally defined and constricted by fear and threats. We can’t just “knuckle under” or “hide under a bushel.”

We must stand up and reassert our rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech in even more vigorous ways. In other words, we can’t let the bad guys win.

There will obviously be new concerns about security and safety for those speaking at Chautauqua. A review is being conducted, and the Institution, I am sure, will be taking a thorough look at what happened and if changes should be made.

However, I hope that the final chapter on this incident will be the reinforcement of the message that Chautauqua is and will continue to be a robust, open place where thoughts and ideas are exchanged without fear or prejudice.

Our best hope for humanity is that humanity wins–and that evil and hate are defeated.

I think that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had it right when, in the midst of the Great Depression, when fascists like Hitler and Mussolini were in their ascendency promoting hate and division, he inspired us with the words: “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”

I thought Governor Kathy Hochul said it well when she visited Chautauqua following this horrific event: “A man with a knife cannot silence a man with a pen.”

Chautauqua, this week, as we commemorate with you the completion of your 149th Season, we also mourn with you in your sadness and loss of tranquility caused by this hate-induced crime. We also celebrate with you the principles of openness, truth-seeking and freedom from fear that you have always believed in and which you have instilled in those of us who live in this community.

Rolland Kidder is a Stow resident.