kool-aid-dog

This is a really good point. So lets use your logic here.

You have an opportunity to talk to one of your more vocal and public opponents about a topic you feel passionately about and know you are right about. Will having this talk help your movement? Yes. Could talking to this guy about this subject be bad for your movemnet? Only if you end up looking wrong. So what reason do you have to not talk to him?

You say its because he wont take back what he said. What kind of reason is this? Personal. Completely. Youre not refusing on the grounds it will help your gruop. Youre refusing because youre feelings were hurt. Youre ego. So you could help your movement by having this discussion but you wont because of .... your ego. So... Maybe..... "if your personal ego is more important than the good of the movement you claim to support, maybe you should stop saying you support it because you don't"

And Im sorry, but isnt that how disputes are solved in the court of public opinion (which should be the only court you care about)? If someone says "we need this this" and you say "we should not have this this" No one is served by both sides ignoring each other. We have made no progress toward what we need.

However, if my side says "we need this because x, y, z" and your side says "we dont need this because a, b, c" at least we have something more to base our opinion on.

I understand not acknowledging every random extremist, but this is not someone just looking to subvert (as you acknowledge), this is a well respected contemporary. When you are a public figure there are always those who (based on their qualifications, merit, etc) will be your peers in the public arena. This guy is one of yours, and it certainly serves your purpose to have a record of you handing him the pieces of his dismantled philosophy, when you call him out to his face on these ides that are so easy to undermine according to your article.

Also if youre going to base this on the idea you dont even want to grant Hedges and his false claims any legitimacy, then you probably shouldnt start by writing a lengthy article directly to him.

"try to be as generous of spirit and understanding as you can to others who've come to different conclusions"

Unless they wont take back what they said about a group you associate with.