EDMOND —
Freedom of speech is a two-way street
To the Editor:
One of our greatest freedoms as Americans is the right to free speech, which of course is guaranteed by the First Amendment to our Constitution. We all have the right to form our own opinion on any matter and then express that opinion freely. However, what some people seem to forget is that while everyone has a right to freely express their opinion, everyone else has the right to agree or disagree.
A good example of that is at City Council meetings. While I don’t speak for the mayor and other City Council members, I know for sure that all of us work hard to do our homework on all issues that come before the council. We do our research and ask lots of questions in order to become fully informed before voting to make the decision that is best for the citizens of Edmond. Citizens are allowed, and even encouraged, to express their opinions at council meetings and those opinions are listened to and considered carefully. In a June 11 letter to the editor titled “Sister City relationship suspect,” Bill O’Hare implies otherwise.
At the May 14 City Council meeting, the council considered a proclamation to form a sister city relationship with Engles, Russia. This was not something that just came up out of the blue. It’s a program that had been in the works for several years and was sponsored by many prominent city leaders and organizations.
As Mr. O’Hare points out in his letter, a few people showed up to express their disagreement with the program, and that is certainly appropriate and within their rights. Former Edmond Mayor Carl Reherman introduced the Sister City Program and six individuals spoke against it. They were allowed to speak and fully express their opinion, a process that went on for almost an hour. At the end, I spoke for a few minutes in favor of the program and why I thought they were wrong.
But don’t take my word for it. Go to the city’s website at www.edmondok.com and watch the video of the May 14 City Council meeting and decide for yourself. It’s the first hour of the meeting.
The problem, at least for them, was that although they spoke and presented their argument, nobody agreed with them. The council approved the proclamation with a vote of 5-0.
As is always the case in our country, everyone is allowed to speak out and everyone else can decide to agree or not. We decided to disagree. That is far different than suggesting we did not allow discussion of the topic. To suggest that the council did not consider all factors and the opinions of the citizens of Edmond is simply not true. A small number of people didn’t like the decision, but a far greater number thought otherwise. That is the beauty of freedom of speech.
Nick Massey
Edmond
NICK MASSEY is the Ward 4 City Councilman.
Letters to the Editor
Letter: Freedom of speech is a two-way street
- Letters to the Editor
-
-
Senators give criminals a pass
Oklahoma’s U.S. Sens. Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe were among 45 senators who recently helped block a sensible measure to reduce gun violence. Specifically, they voted down a measure to expand background checks for gun buyers — a step favored by 86 percent of Americans, according to recent polls. Our senators were not even asked to vote for tougher measures like bans on military-type assault weapons or high-capacity magazines, also favored by 56 percent of Americans, according to a Quinnipiac University poll.
-
LETTER: Senators give criminals a pass
To the Editor:
Oklahoma’s U.S. Sens. Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe were among 45 senators who recently helped block a sensible measure to reduce gun violence. Specifically, they voted down a measure to expand background checks for gun buyers — a step favored by 86 percent of Americans, according to recent polls. Our senators were not even asked to vote for tougher measures like bans on military-type assault weapons or high-capacity magazines, also favored by 56 percent of Americans, according to a Quinnipiac University poll.
By opposing background checks for gun buyers, Sens. Coburn and Inhofe voted in favor of allowing the mentally ill and criminals to buy guns! They call it “Second Amendment” rights. I call it cash for their campaigns from the gun lobby. -
LETTER: Postal carriers seek to ‘Stamp out Hunger’
To the Editor:
On Saturday, help your letter carrier “Stamp Out Hunger” by leaving canned food donations by your mailbox. In Edmond, donations benefit the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s partner agencies HOPE Center of Edmond, Route 66 Project and Edmond Grace Fellowship. This effort is part of the 21st annual Letter Carriers’ Food Drive, which is the largest one-day food drive in America. -
LETTER: Unanswered prayer leads to lower taxes, honorable policy makers
To the Editor:
In a recent column, Oklahoma Rep. Jason Murphy (“How a no vote solved gas tax problem,” The Edmond Sun, April 30, 2013) commended the wise and educated voters of Oklahoma for seeing through the 2005 fuel tax increase and demanding more action of our state policy makers. With the recent work of our elected officials, along with the Department of Transportation, our roads and bridges have seen much improvement during the past couple of years. -
LETTER: Senate bills will help veterans living in centers
To the Editor:
I just viewed a short video done by Brig. Gen. Steve Ritchie who recounts the rescue of downed Vietnam pilot RogerLocher in April 1972. Ritchie said that Loche’s rescue was the farthest behind enemy lines and superceded all air operations that day. -
LETTER: President: OneNet saves UCO money
To the Editor:
Discussion continues in The Edmond Sun publications regarding upgrading and consolidating information technology resources in state government. While I respect the viewpoint that has been expressed so far, certain facts should be taken into consideration that directly affect the University of Central Oklahoma and the 17,000 students we serve. -
Bond debt not an unpardonable sin
Is Oklahoma bond indebtedness for Oklahoma infrastructure an unpardonable sin? No! Rep. Jason Murphey wrote a good op ed dealing with what he bemoans as oppressive state bond debt. He calculates each Oklahoman owes $649 in state debt. He and the rest of the ultra-fiscal conservatives can’t bring themselves to support bonds to pay for the state Capitol repairs, building a medical examiner’s office or other legitimate capital expenditures. So using his logic I decided to apply that thinking to my personal and business life.
-
Senate bill potentially denies women’s rights
Once again, our state Legislature is moving toward passage of another bill that will not stand up to a court challenge because it is contrary to federal law. It also follows the pattern of many of these failed laws in that it attempts to limit the choices women have in our state.
-
Edmond’s state senators and representatives can do their part to help the economy
To the Editor:
Enclosed below is a list of things that I as a citizen believe to be important for the upcoming session. -
Remembering good friends
To the Editor,
I would like to tell the wonderful people of Edmond that we have lost someone very special to us. - More Letters to the Editor Headlines
-
Senators give criminals a pass
