Leading article: The closing of the British mind
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.We flatter ourselves that the witch-hunt is something that has long been alien to these shores. We are, we protest, a tolerant nation, where a thousand flowers are permanently in bloom. The trials of Salem were a New World phenomenon, as was McCarthyism, with its "are you now or have you ever been..." a Red under the patriotic US bed. Then we are brought up short, or we should be, by the resignation of Professor Michael Reiss, director of education at the venerable Royal Society.
Prof Reiss had the temerity to suggest that creationism should be discussed in science lessons, if pupils raised the issue. Somehow, it was inevitable that he should be misquoted as recommending that creationism should be taught in schools. All hell predictably broke loose. Prof Reiss, a Church of England minister, was accused of betraying his scientific calling and scandalously hounded out of office. Creationism may have no place in science lessons, but open-mindedness and tolerance surely do. We ask ourselves whose mind is more tightly closed: Prof Reiss's or those of his scientist colleagues.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments