To the Editor:

In our post-September 11 desire to appear to be united as Americans, we have allowed our fear of external threats to undermine our greatest strengths at home. Not wanting to be considered unpatriotic, we voluntarily censor our public conversations. A term that has been corrupted recently is “bipartisan.” Any person who wishes to exercise his or her First Amendment right to criticize our local or federal government is castigated as anti-American. To me, however, the glory of the American way of life is enshrined in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It is only through the free exchange of differing opinions that we can hope to determine reasonable truths and decisions.

I know I have bitten off a huge topic, and now I want to bring it right into our home town. In the upcoming election to the Board of Education, I hope to find candidates who understand and appreciate both liberal and conservative viewpoints. I want our BOE members to be models for our children — I want men and women who can engage in civil discourse, approach matters of financing, curriculum, and programming from divergent starting points, and through deliberative exchanges come to the best decisions on the behalf of the community.

Serving on the BOE is an arduous task, and thus its members must be knowledgeable, articulate, frank, and open-minded. We must look to these people as the first and best guardians of America’s youngest citizens.

It is with this in mind that I urge my fellow residents of Newtown to vote for Andrew Buzzi on the Republican slate. His record of service to the town on the building commission, the Republican Town Committee, and recently on the Board of Education is exemplary. In addition, his role in his son’s scout troop and in the life of St Rose show him to be an ideal father. I have known him for 20 years. In that time we have debated and happily disagreed on every issue that can distinguish a conservative Republican from a liberal Democrat. Andy’s vision is in the very best sense of the word “bipartisan.” His actions and words are consistent with his belief that fiscal responsibility, academic excellence, and personal virtue can bring forth the best in Newtown Schools.

Andy Buzzi’s professionalism as a lawyer and his public life are dedicated to the preservation of the rights enshrined in the Constitution. He is the ideal sparing partner for the left. And he embodies the intelligence, love of history, science, the law, and social justice that I hope every child will master in our school system. A 21st century patriot — vote for him.

Tom McMorran

6 Orchard Hill Road, Newtown                              October 27, 2003