I find it fascinating that any academic wouldn't grasp how critical respectful civil discourse is to a viable democratic society. Having an advanced degree is not an excuse to conclude that anyone who disagrees with you is intellectually inferior therefore worthy of dismissal, marginalization and containment.

While well-meaning, those who believe they can improve society by silencing the half of it that they disagree with have become bullies in the truest sense of the word. It's an arrogant ignorance that leads to the worst of what humanity can devise.

A principled, respectful debate between people on opposite sides of an issue is what allows us to slowly improve and evolve without tearing the fabric of society.

Even I know this, and I didn't graduate from college.