George,

The free speech chalkboard is a wonderful idea.

The risk that the privilege of speech may be abused is one with which we have lived for 200 years, without disastrous results. Sure there will be abuses, but will it keep me from taking my children to that end of the downtown mall? Absolutely not. On the contrary, I look forward to sharing the lessons learned about the defense of our fundamental freedoms.

I am reminded about the great Charlottesville tradition of the Beta bridge. Those of us who were students at the University could hardly have gotten our diplomas without at least one requisite painting of the bridge. Does anyone heading for St. Paul's on Sunday morning avoid Rugby Road to avoid the potential exposure to Saturday night adventures in bad taste? I doubt it. I'm sure the skeptics will be able to point to some egregious breaches of taste on the bridge, but on the whole, free speech on the bridge has been a colorful and venerated tradition.

FYI, I intend to not only use the chalkboard, but to sign my contributions. Let's make that the standard ... by example.

Russell Perry (electronic mail, February 18, 2001).