FREE SPEECH: Vote with your feet

Megyn Kelly had a perfect response to Pam Bondi when Bondi said that she will ‘go after’ hate speech. Megyn reminded us that the First Amendment was written to protect hate speech and speech of all kinds. No amendment would have been needed to protect everyday speech. Kelly was right on. 

As for the curtailing of free speech, the thing to do is vote with your feet. Hayden Library is censoring books; therefore, I do not enter there. The Idaho Legislature has dictated what signs public buildings can display. That interferes with school districts’ right to free speech. 

The firing of Mr. Colbert and Mr. Kimmel denied their right to free speech and my right to watch late night TV. I have jettisoned those two channels from my watch list. Other businesses who condone restricting free speech will not have my business. 

As the old saying goes, “I don’t agree with what you say but I will defend your right to say it.” Free speech is what made the United States great. We have disagreed with each other many times: the 1890s and 1930s come to mind. But when we had to pull together against an enemy of our country, we often came together, such as during WWI and WWII. 

I remember when I had Norwegian guests many years ago and they asked, “Is it OK for you to criticize your president?” I replied, “It’s a national pastime.” They laughed and said, “It is the same in Norway.”

DONNA HARVEY

Hayden