Re: Andrew Taban commentary, March 17, “March Madness, Starring Performative Art of Hypocrisy.”
Not all silence indicates indifference; sometimes it reflects understanding.
The people Mr. Taban references — parents, community members, those who’ve spoken up before — are familiar with advocacy. We’ve shown up and voiced our opinions. We also recognize that not all issues are the same, and not every situation warrants noise over accuracy.
Mr. Taban’s follow-up misses the core point. The Epstein case isn’t a simple school board issue or cultural debate. It’s a complex legal matter involving sealed records, grand jury protections, and victim privacy. These aren’t excuses; they are common sense and legal realities. The system doesn’t react quickly to public outrage, and forcing it can cause more harm than good.
That’s why some of us choose to be measured.
Context is important. In 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland directed federal law enforcement to address threats against school officials. After that, the FBI created an “EDUOFFICIALS” threat tag to track related cases. While this was intended to focus on threats, many parents and lawmakers raised serious concerns that it could blur the line between legitimate advocacy and criminal behavior and discourage parents from speaking out.
Whether one agrees with this or not, it highlights an important point: When challenging powerful institutions, you must choose your words carefully and ensure you’re correct. Moms for Liberty and their supporters are not fools.
The only person acting like a tantrum-throwing toddler is Mr. March Madness himself. Many of his articles center on complaints about M4L, Republicans, or Donald Trump. It’s clear that he’s not the one taking the time to understand what’s actually involved.
Calling that “hypocrisy” might sound impactful in a column, but it doesn’t reflect reality.
Some of us aren’t staying silent because we don’t care. We’re being careful because we’re smart.
Nancy Fairbanks
Valencia
