Kudos for free speech pieces

Thanks to the Opinion editor for the inclusion in Saturday’s paper of the editorial from the St. Louis Post Dispatch and the column by Christine Flowers of the Philadelphia Daily News.

From a conservative’s viewpoint, Nazism is an abhorrent attack on the rights of every individual in the world who values personal liberty and freedom. For our Jewish citizens, I can only imagine the fear and repulsion the swastika must convey as they remember the 6 million plus deaths in the gas chambers of World War II.

The problem in the United States is how to confront this diatribe of hate within the framework of our laws and culture. The Post Dispatch editorial reminds us the First Amendment protects us all, and any effort to curtail our free speech rights is an effort to force “group think” upon us — no matter how noble the intention.

Ms. Flowers’ article is an excellent piece of logic and reasoning. It took courage for her to write this piece amid the passionate clamor surrounding the events of the past several days.

Solution — physical confrontation? No, you’re just adding tinder to the fire. I prefer to ignore anyone who flies a Nazi flag or wears armbands that suggest oppression and dictatorship.

And a note for our elected political leaders. Don’t be afraid to use law enforcement and if necessary, the National Guard, to keep the peace during marches and demonstrations.

There was very little evidence the Virginia authorities ever contemplated this type of activity.

Ken Bogdan

Sagle