Amid the recent roiling seas of public murder and on-purpose mayhem came the news that film star Robert Redford had died at 89. As one among millions who enjoyed his movies — whether acting or directing — I have always been especially struck by Redford’s persona … his off-screen character. Still, exploring Redford’s life, what he valued and with whom he surrounded himself, reveals a fairly clear picture. He was, after all, an actor, whose work is consumed by the public — making him a public figure. Their metaphorical underpinning, however, defies today’s frightening move away from diversified thought and expression and toward some monolithic political viewpoint.