AGREED: Honor free speech

I am writing this in response to Friday’s huge headline and accompanying photos and captions.

First, let me say that I have no connection to the Pachyderm Club, nor have I ever heard of Brittany Pettibone, except for what I have read in The Press. My concern is the headline, FREE TO DISAGREE. Who agreed to disagree? According to the article, some protesters marched outside the restaurant waving their silly signs because someone was maybe going to say something they disagreed with to a group of private citizens. The result was the meeting being canceled, thus depriving citizens of their rights of free assembly and free speech.

Members of a civil society would have joined the group, enjoyed a good breakfast and respectfully listened to what the speaker had to say. And, I am sure there would have been a Q&A session afterward during which they could have asked questions and maybe express their views in a polite manner. Who knows, maybe they would have learned something. Steve Novak’s letter is right on point on this subject.

So, back to my initial concern. We, as citizens of a free society, are free to disagree, in a respectful and peaceful manner, so long as we do not infringe upon another’s rights.

JOE FOTI

Hayden