In the early 16th century, Wang, a Confucian philosopher, developed the notion that we all have an "innate knowledge of the good." Soon a radical interpretation developed placing one's personal conscience at the center of one's moral universe. If I am good and you oppose my views you must be evil. This is nothing new. One only need to look at the self righteous Pharisees 1500 years before who put Christ on the cross. However, what is significant about the Chinese application was it came from within the governance of the country. The moralization of political discourse became gridlock leaving many even simple problems of state unresolved or misdirected. It destroyed the Golden Age of the Ming Dynasty and now in West Milford its intoxication is destroying a basic fiber of education, free speech. Because as a member of the West Milford school board I want to engage education in the field of ideas, bringing everyone's point of view to bear (especially all classroom teachers) I am evil. This was manifest at the Aug. 23 regular school board meeting when I was not allowed to comment on the board president Dave Richard's remarks. I then attempted to speak at the public portion of the meeting where any United States citizen has the right to speak. Again I was not allowed to speak. John Milton wrote in 1644 "Give me the liberty to know, to utter and to argue freely according to conscience above all liberties." Under the United States Constitution pol tical speech is the most protected speech yet, during a portion of the agenda designated for free speech of the public, I was not allowed to speak. Why? Because if I have the right of free speech I then can claim all my rights, but moreover the rights of others who have been subjected to oppression by the elitists who would be gods if we let them. But this is not my fight. It is everyone's fight who values liberty and the virtues of education. If today I stand alone then tomorrow we all will stand alone. John Aiello Hewitt Note: These are my opinions and not those of the West Milford school board.