To the editor:

The peace yard sign ripper-uppers have been at it again. This time their target was the Barker neighborhood. The sign itself is nothing. It cost me a couple bucks’ donation to the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice, and it probably contained 25 cents worth of cardboard. But the idea behind its destruction is abhorrent and should chill the hearts of people who still believe that the United States is a country that respects freedom and diversity.

In case you are reading this, you people who would rather destroy things than create something positive, I hope you understand that it is you, not peace protesters, who threaten the principles of democracy. We seek to express our views, a right that is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. Nowhere in the Constitution, or in the code of conduct of a civilized society, is there anything giving you the right to silence my expression or destroy my property.

As I work through my anger at this violation of my property and freedom of speech and my sadness at the knowledge that there are people in my town who would act like this, I’m reminded of words commonly attributed to Voltaire (though there’s no proof he’s the one who said them): I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to my death your right to say it. Go ahead, put up your own sign expressing your support for the president’s war. I promise not to tear it down.

Andrea Zuercher,

Lawrence