George,

I just read Lloyd's piece regarding cross burning because Lloyd is good at presenting the facts. I am now troubled by this decision. While I believe in free speeech and believe people have the right to do whatever they want on their own property no matter how hateful I find it there are limits to free speech such as the old "yelling fire in the theater" example. The law as laid out in Lloyd's piece prohibited cross burning on someone else's property or public property. Does this mean that people can burn crosses in my yard or paint swatiskas on public buildings? I know I am overstating my case and there are probably other laws that cover this but shouldn't we be able to have laws relating to what you can't do on other people's and public property?

Thanks,

Downing Smith (electronic mail, November 12, 2001).