http://wtracyparnell.blogspot.com/2021/04/tribute-to-john-mcadams.html
Nice tribute, Tracy.
I'm going to guess that as a Southern boy and staunch conservative (I'll say <g>) that his experience as an "outsider" at Harvard and then Marquette probably deepened his strong support for free speech, for the right to challenge conventional views, and for the right to hear heterodox views. He likely had some, let's say, interesting exchanges with his fellow academics at the Harvard faculty lounge. Marquette too. So he needed that right more than others. And came to believe in its importance more too.
That commitment to free speech, to expressing unconventional views clearly was behind his efforts on the assassination. As long as one was civil, you could promote whatever conspiracy view you wanted to. He'd not suppress it or say it was forbidden. As you know, he was critical of the latest efforts by "social media" and others to suppress controversial views. Sure, some of these views are just awful - who the heck is QAnon anyway? and really, Ruth Paine was a CIA conspirator? - but the answer to bad speech is indeed more speech. That was clearly his view. And for what it's worth, mine too.
So while the conspiracists may celebrate his death (some of them are) they really should think twice about the party they're having. It's not John McAdams who was their enemy. Instead of celebrating his death, they should be toasting his support for their right to say what they believe.
