It's your opinion.  Not mine, not theirs, but yours.  Whether I or others agree with it, it is still your opinion.

            And, whether I agree with it or not, I will defend your right to express it, and I will defend the right of those who disagree with you to express their opinion as well.

            You can express an opinion, argue an opinion, agree with an opinion, or disagree with an opinion.  But when threats or acts of violence follow, you've taken it too far.

            Remember, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

            Those aren't my words; they are the words of our Nation's Founders, enshrined in the First Amendment of the Constitution.

            You say you want to save democracy, or that our nation is under the threat of losing our freedoms, and that officials are ignoring the United States Constitution.  Well, some folks need to look in the mirror.

            After last week's Letters to the Editor were published, we experienced more than our share of local residents expressing their hate for us for publishing the letters.

            The Town and Country may or may not agree with the opinions expressed in the letters, but as long as they adhere to the rules (including the name of the submitter), we provide the venue to express those opinions.  Believing in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution shouldn't be a reason to threaten the messenger.

            We continue to live in a country that seems to thrive on hate, distrust, conflict, and disrespect.  We don't have to respect every opinion, but the first step to calming people down is to accept that the opinion of others may differ from yours.  You may not like it, but accept their right to express it.

            Differences can be discussed, debated, or argued.  They can even be ignored.  Violence or threats of violence make you the bad person.