> permission to ask obvious questions about the narrative handed down from on high—without fear of defamation that costs me my livelihood.

Sure, that's not much to ask for. The rights people fight and have fought for are mostly the freedom to do basic, everyday things like that. Wishing, hoping for it is easy. To actually do something about it, to fight for it and achieve it, to give everyone freedom from that fear – that would be greatness.