Dear Elon Musk,
You have an awesome opportunity to do good. The First Amendment, freedom of speech, is sacred for Democracy to thrive. Yet, like yelling “Fire!” in a movie theater, there are some words that are too dangerous, that incite violence, unleash hate, and endorse malice.
What will you do, Elon, with that big, beautiful, #twiceexceptional brain of yours?
I imagine you as the one who holds back the mob that threatens to trample democratic ideals, keeping those who are different, safe from oncoming crushing, lethal blows. Will you allow animosity, acrimony and antagonism break through to leave death and destruction in their wake?
At With Understanding Comes Calm, we know how important our voice and messages are for the #gifted and #twiceexceptional communities. We know our resources, education, and consultations are lifelines for many. We won’t #cancel you Elon, because we want to hear your answer and give you an opportunity to respond, stand up, and take the opportunity to stave off the devastating and stifling voices that mean to demean, disrupt, and disgrace the human condition.
But, Elon, if something doesn’t change, if you allow the mob mentality to trample and squash democratic ideals, we will have to leave your platform. We cannot endorse blood on your hands, because blood on your hands, is blood on ours, when we stand by and do nothing.
Author: Julie F. Skolnick M.A., J.D.
Julie Skolnick, M.A., J.D., is the Founder of With Understanding Comes Calm, LLC, through which she passionately guides parents of gifted and distractible children, mentors 2e adults, and collaborates with and advises educators and professionals on bringing out the best and raising self-confidence in their students and clients.
8 Responses
Beautiful, Julie! So important to share this message. Thank you!
Thank YOU, Paula, for taking the time to comment. We all need band together and hold one another up.
Thank you for writing this letter. I only hope it actually gets to Mr. Musk and that he takes it to heart. I wonder what his awareness is of being twice exceptional or gifted? I wonder who is or was and is his lifeline. I wonder who his mentors are. The world has yet to understand the unique brain of the gifted and twice exceptional. Thankfully, Autism is becoming more understood, as is ADHD and other learning differences. Seldom, however, do mainstream communities understand how a gifted person is affected when living in communities that misunderstand them. Mr. Musk, could be, as you suggested and hero rather than a villain.
Thank you for your response. Yes, let’s hope he chooses the better path!
I tried to search for what Elon Musk has done this time. So he finally bought Twitter, and people fear he might bring back previously banned members in the name of free speech? Is there more to this? I’m not really much of a Twitter user. Thank you.
Thanks for reading our blog…the best way to find out what Musk is doing (loosening rules on hate speech, firing employees) is to do a google search and you’ll go into a deep dive. Here at With Understanding Comes Calm we are weighing the importance of our messages of education, support, and resources with our dismay over recent events. We are giving Musk a chance to use his powers for good, but we won’t wait forever.
Elon, we 2e folks are the ones who see the world differently, can see patterns others cannot see, and generally have a deep empathy for the life and well being of others, human or not. Now is the time to be a leader and help heal the world. I hope that you can step up to the challenge and use the wealth and influence you have to make a difference.
Amen.