Free speech is not a right to interrupt

I was in 5th grade back in 1944. My teacher was a wonderful older woman who was a great teacher and communicator. One day there was an altercation in the classroom. She broke it up and determined the argument was about one child saying some very unkind, hurtful and inaccurate things about another child.

The perpetrator told the teacher he had a right to say what he wanted, when he wanted and to whom he wanted.

The teacher looked at him and placed her finger in his nose. "Yes, you do have those rights, thanks to the Bill of Rights. But, your rights end at the tip of your nose. You do not have the right to infringe on other people's rights and that is what you were doing."

I mention this because the people who are so verbal and active at the town hall meetings have every right to protest, question and express their views.

However, when they shout and interrupt and wave their signs and purposely drown out the others who are trying to benefit from the exchange of information and ideas; that's when their rights stop. If they are so adamant about the first amendment, they should also realize it was written for everyone, not just them.

Len Brauer

Palatine