Freedom of speech helps define us as Americans
I would like to sincerely thank the Sun- Times Editorial Board for its inspiring editorial regarding the issue of free speech. The demonstrators who marched peacefully demonstrated what is truly unique about our First Amendment right to free speech. Without this right, we are not Americans, nor are we the inheritors of this wonderful document that gave us this right.
Congratulations again to the Editorial Board for this thoughtprovoking editorial. I would only wish that all Americans would read it, especially the one who resides in the people’s house at 1600 Pennsyl- vania Avenue. Dean Starr, Libertyville
Puerto Rico needs lifeline
When the richest 1 percent among us faced financial ruin, Congress and a Republican president passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. This program provided hundreds of billions of dollars of support to avert a disaster. Today, another 1 percent of Americans, the 3.4 million citizens of our country living in Puerto Rico, need a literal lifeline. Our government always seems to have the money when the rich and powerful are desperate. Today is the day we have to find it for the most vunerable. Don Anderson, Oak Park
Balancing rights
Contrary to the assertion of Mary Hallan FioRito, Roe v. Wade does not hold “abortion should be legal in all cases, at all stages in pregnancy.” The opinion goes to great lengths to balance the rights and needs of the fetus with those of the mother, with those of the fetus becoming more important with each trimester. It is not a blanket endorsement of abortion. Those who are pro- life would agree with this balancing view.
Elaine Nyquist, Barrington
Read the Bill of Rights
So Coach Mike Ditka thinks the players are demonstrating against the Constitution that he believes in. Is that the Constitution with the First Amendment that not only protects freedom of speech but also “the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for redress of grievances”?
Since only a few players were demonstrating prior to the president’s saying the “s. o. b. s” should be fired, what was last Sunday’s demonstration of solidarity trying to show? Were they protesting against our military or American values? Perhaps Ditka and others who agree with him should play fewer card games and actually read the Bill of Rights. Walter Fulton,
Dyer Ind.