Gloucester’s Richard Rosenfeld gave a talk a few weeks ago at Yale University, his alma mater, about the standards by which higher education can address public events. But in the wake of the widespread protests about the war in Gaza, his talk was repurposed and published in the university press to reinforce the importance of toleration in public discussions.
His nonpartisan approach to civic activism and his words resonated with the group of alumni, students and university officials who attended the talk, which was published in the Yale News on Nov. 15.
The overriding message in the live talk and published address is one of the need for tolerance in a democracy, starting with the time of the founding fathers and continuing into the 21st century.
The talk by Rosenfeld, a scholar, author and entrepreneur, was both historical in nature and relevant to present day.
Rosenfeld’s premise suggests that when standing up for one’s beliefs, rather than taking a partisan stance, it may be more effective to expound the values of the Enlightenment, a philosophy embraced by many of the nation’s early leaders.
American democracy remains as fragile today as it did in the nation’s early years, emphasized Rosenfeld, a resident of Rocky Neck.
During discussion after the talk, he noted the absence of leadership from the realm of higher education today on major issues facing the country.
“Where are the voices in America to stand up and say ‘no.’ If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything, and no one is standing up right now,” said Rosenfeld. “With a nonpartisan standard, such as the value of the Enlightenment, you can stand up and say this is wrong. It is a phenomenal nonpartisan weapon that can reflect higher education and the highest institutions in society to say what is right and what is wrong.”
He raised the incidents of the book-banning that have been taking place. He further noted that over the past 100 years, much public debate has shifted from a focus on government policy to degrading cultures.
“Don’t talk about partisan issues but talk about the Enlightenment’s democratic values,” he urged.
Rosenfeld, a Yale graduate of 1963, was invited to give the talk at the invitation of Mary Lui, the head of Yale University’s Timothy Dwight College. It was also held at his namesake Rosenfeld Hall at the university’s Timothy Dwight College.
“Contrary to what many believe, the Enlightenment was not simply an historical period of intellectual and philosophical development. The Enlightenment was also a choice that this nation and Yale have had to make and will continue to have to make each and every day,” he said.
His talk included the political progression of the young nation as well as that of his alma mater.
The Enlightenment is often identified with the era of three political revolutions — in the American colonies, England and France — all which led to modern constitutional democracies. The era coincided with the rise of the Age of Reason and the industrial revolution.
In his writing, Rosenfeld synthesizes American history with its link to modern times. In 1997, St. Martin’s Press published his book “American Aurora: A Democratic-Republican Returns: The Suppressed History of Our Nation’s Beginnings and the Heroic Newspaper That Tried to Report It.” and in 2001, his article in Harper’s Magazine September issue was titled “The Adams Tyranny; Lost Lessons from the Early Republic.”
“At the start of the 20th century, as at the start of the 19th century, the Enlightenment posed questions of equality and toleration that the nation and Yale would again have to decide,” he told the audience at his recent talk.
As a student, Rosenfeld wrote an article for the Yale Daily News in which he urged Yale to care about disenfranchised Blacks, Asians, Jews, Catholics, the poor, and everyone else, during the civil rights area. He further urged that Yale’s admissions and societies should be open to all who were qualified, regardless of race, creed, religion, color or social class.
“Yale should be something better than an enclave for the privileged; it should be a moral example to the world and concerned citizen of the world … and embrace a set of values as democratic as the U.S. Constitution,” he wrote as a student.
As an undergraduate, Rosenfeld joined the freedom rides and sit-ins led by then Yale chaplain the Rev. William Coffin to integrate Blacks in the South, wrote against racial segregation, and started a political magazine to encourage debate. He withdrew from his fraternity when its national charter barred an African-American applicant.
“I am here to remind you that the Enlightenment was not just a period of cultural and philosophical development but rather a choice that Yale and the nation have had to make and will continue to have to make each and every day,” he said. “For the future, I hope that Yale will always choose the Enlightenment and will defend Enlightenment values whenever they come under attack.”
In closing, Rosenfeld shared an observation of Rev. Coffin, who said, “Remember that even if you win the rat race, you are still a rat.”
“So, in the footsteps of those who gave us the Enlightenment, let’s all try to do some good,” said Rosenfeld.
The full published version, and a video link, is available at: yaledailynews.com/blog/2023/11/15/rosenfeld-yales-long-road-to-toleration.