George:

"If The Observer wishes to be truly 'community oriented,' it has to allow involvement by all members of the community - including Planned Parenthood."

- George Loper, Board Member, Planned Parenthood of the Blue Ridge (Featured letter of the week, Letter to the Editor, George Loper, The Observer, August 9, 2000).

Is this any different than several University Newspaper publishers being able to present David Horowitz's ad?

Like I feel it is wrong of The Observer to censor Planned Parenthood ads, I also feel it is wrong of the (University) newspapers to censor other ads. If Planned Parenthood pays for the ad - why not publish it?

For example:

The C-Ville Weekly prints on its front page that the first copy is free and additional copies are $1.00. If I take a second copy, then it is theft (although, I don't think Hawes is really going to prosecute me). If there is an article or ad in an issue that I found offensive or antagonistic against, let's say... me, then I cannot simply steal all of the C-Ville Weekly’s around town. It would be my duty to write a letter to the editor with an explanation of my side or request a retraction.

Hawes, as the editor, owes it to ALL of his paying advertisers to get the newspaper out to the public. They are paying his bills for printing and distribution. Businesses choose advertising outlets based on coverage (readership/viewship/listenership) in demographic areas. When the paper promises certain readership and then cannot get the editions out to the readership he may become liable financially to all who advertised in the stolen issues.

Is erasing [the Charlottesville Chalkboard] comparable to theft? No.

If I stand on a soapbox on the downtown mall espousing conservative beliefs to all and a musician starts playing a guitar near me - nobody can hear me. Is that theft? No. If I write, "George Loper loves Patricia Ireland" on a chalkboard and he erases it - is it theft? No. I have every option to go and rewrite it.

Where is the difference?

I went up to that board with the foreknowledge that others have the option of erasing my message.

Will Lyster (electronic mail, March 23, 2001).