Today's words of wisdom ...

Part of an irregular series in which we look at wise words from history and how they deepen our understanding of the here and now ...

"Honest and earnest criticism from those whose interests are most nearly touched - criticism of writers by readers, or government by those governed, of leaders by those led - this is the soul of American democracy and the safeguard of modern society." - W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963), preeminent African American scholar, author and activist.

Ah yes, the "soul" and the "safeguard" of modern democracies, as Du Bois deftly noted, is free and bold criticism.

More simply, free speech.

The idea of free speech - and more acutely free dissent - is one of those political maxims that comes relatively easy to us journalists. We are sluggish on a lot of ideas, and we constantly struggle with imperfect reports, but we, like Du Bois, Thomas Jefferson, Voltaire or any other post-Enlightenment thinker worth his or her salt get it on this score.

And I trust most of you, the readers, get it too.

What Du Bois is really getting at here, however, is a little more advanced. He is saying that all cooperative efforts benefit from free, open and often critical comment.

Today, on this blog and in our newspaper, we have made progress. When I first highlighted the salaries and benefits of firefighters and police officers, for instance, I got peppered with reactions and accusations that I had an agenda, didn't support our heroes, and a number of other transgressions.

When I first cast light all over the accusations against Sgt. Bradley Lawrence, I heard some of the same.

But, alas, the tides have been turning. With the critical analysis of a number of public issues, including Chief Michael Billdt's non-existent resume, Mayor Pat Morris' problematic Operation Phoenix and the incomplete investigation of the incident at The Dorjils, the reactions have shifted.

The debate is vigorous and open.

Nothing is sacred or exhalted, save for the public's right to know.

And we are realizing, as Du Bois did, that hushed criticism and fawning commentary is no friend of democracy.

Any government, leader, or program (or writer, for that matter) can only be legitimatized through the nourishment of honest and open criticism.