To the editor:

In singing the praises of the current Supreme Court nominee, Mr. Eric Schmidt (Oct. 4 letter) seeks to destroy the credibility and humanity of all who do not share his views. Well, Mr. Schmidt, I’m one of those folks, your hometown neighbor. I’m white, attend church, have done mission work in Haiti and in impoverished parts of Kentucky. I’m a father, grandfather, and I try to be a decent human being. I suspect you do the same.

Our ‘bastion of freedom country’ (your words) for centuries held slaves. Progressive-minded folks worked hard to change that. Took centuries. Pretty grandiose idea, right? Progressive women worked hard to earn voting rights. Took a long time. Progressive folks fought against the KKK and for civil rights being extended to those segregated from people like you and me. Yet you’re unable to see that certain structures and foundations deserve and need destruction. Even conservatives have come to accept what were once radical progressive — yes, socialistic — ideas such as public education, Medicare, Social Security and, soon, the Affordable Care Act. Once all very scary stuff, right?

Progressives don’t seek to destroy society. Instead, we seek to drag it closer to becoming that just society for all people envisioned by our imperfect system. No, Mr. Schmidt, us progressives are not the liberal radical feminists you abhor. We’re your neighbors, fellow citizens, fellow human beings. We’ll keep pushing and prodding, without apology.

Piet R. Knetsch,

Lawrence