Deborah Solomon’s interviewee in her August 5th weekly New York Times Magazine column was the writer Mary Gordon. When asked, “Are you a Hillary Clinton supporter?” Gordon replied, “I think no woman is electable in America.” She kept going, but reading that line, I remember thinking, “Wow, this woman has guts. Thank goodness someone is saying it. ” My second thought was, “I bet she gets trashed in next week’s letters.”

This past week, there was one response: I’ve quoted it in its entirety below; click the link for author info.

“Thinking (out loud, in a highly public forum) that “no woman is electable in America” is a sure way to help make it true. Mary Gordon is a role model for this country’s female intelligentsia. Her publicly defeatist attitude is deplorable.”

Succinct, well-written, and a bit knee-jerk? If, when directly asked, Gordon states what she perceives to be today’s truth, is that “defeatist” and “deplorable,” or is it exposing a sickness and giving it the air to heal? Even if she supports the candidate’s agenda, and still doesn’t think she’s electable, would it have been a better thing to say “Yes”?

No matter the issue at hand, I believe that any feminist who suggests another should keep her or his mouth shut plays a dangerous game. That’s why I adore these fine people.