George,

While I think Liberals need, and are entitled to, as much free speech as anyone else, for the life of me, I cannot figure out why anyone thinks this chalkboard is a good idea. Besides the obvious concern that it will be regularly filled with profanity, threats and inane scribblings, it strikes me as a gigantic and costly eyesore.

There are so many more effective ways to spend money to promote and ensure free speech - not to mention many other causes. What a waste!

Terri Di Cintio (electronic mail, May 23, 2005)

Editor's Note (dated May 25, 2005): Terri Di Cinto's letter is in response to the following query: "In this morning’s Daily Progress, Kevin Lynch questions the free speech monument and says that it is “ironic that a free-speech monument [would] be erected in front of the governing seat of a city that is ‘a spot of liberalism in an increasingly reactionary state.’” Do you believe liberals are in less need of free speech than other folk?"