An open letter to Neil Young: What happened to 'living in a free world'?

Neil Young (Biography photo)

Dear Neil:

I have learned that you and your family have suffered physical and medical conditions such as polio, cerebral palsy, anxiety, and seizures. I am so sorry for the difficulties you and your family have endured. I admire your fortitude and strength to deal with those challenges and respect your opinion.

The truth is that being a "survivor" does not qualify you as one of the world's leading inventors of MRNA technology, or a virologist, doctor, scientist, or researcher any more than a cancer survivor is a qualified oncologist or heart attack survivor is a qualified cardiologist. You are living in a silo disregarding the definition of the scientific process and the U.S. Constitution.

Criticism is the backbone of the scientific method. It is a process based on presently valid scientific methods.

You have no right to request censorship of someone with whom you do not agree. You do not have the educational credentials or experience of people like Dr. Malone (the inventor of MRNA technology) or the doctors who have treated their patients at the onset of Covid rather than send them home with no treatment until the patient required hospitalization.

Yes, you are entitled to your opinion. However, you have no right to (1) shutdown the scientific method which provided society with safe vaccines or (2) attempt to eliminate freedom of speech in the country. What happened to "Living in a Free World" where freedom of speech is a constitutional right?

Cheryl Russell is a former high school teacher and 30-year employee with the U.S. Department of the Treasury. She lives in Dover.