Tolerance must be universal to truly exist

I'd like to offer a different angle on your opinion (Daily Bee, Nov. 30). Your letter contained excellent points about the Vay resident with the hateful (my opinion) sign displayed in his yard. I agree with everything you said except that he overstepped his bounds for freedom of expression/speech. This is not to suggest that he not lacking common sense. I think all idiots who lack common sense should express themselves in a harmless way so that the rest of society will know exactly who they are, who society should keep away from, and so that we can call the authorities in to see if there is any danger posed here. If you restrict expression like this, you create a risk to society who will have no warning when guys like this go on a rampage.

I want to know if my neighbor lacks common sense before he crosses the line from idiot to criminal. With knowledge like this there might be a way to get this person some preventative help. Of course, living in Cocolalla, I know all my neighbors are perfectly sensible people with a great deal of common sense … like me.

I agree that the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force did the right thing in calling the authorities and bringing attention to his man, but to demand (as they did in a letter to the Bee) the restriction of a person's right to freedom of speech is very intolerant, even if we hate what is said. If you're going to defend tolerance, you have to defend those who you can't tolerate as well. Either tolerance is going to be universal, or it doesn't exist. I strongly disagree with and publicly condemn what this man said, but I defend his right to say it.

THOMAS LEO

Cocolalla