LETTER: Fragile Ideals

To the Editor: It is regrettable, however, that in the United States our mindset is so skewed in favor of individual rights that we seldom consider the common good of us all. I agree that freedom of speech is a fragile ideal which must "be carefully guarded." However, our country was also founded on another fragile ideal, that is, the preference to give all, regardless of how poor, tired and homeless, a genuine welcome and an equal opportunity. This value, however is usually omitted in any discussion of the defense of the right of free speech. While harassment policies benefit everyone, they particularly protect those groups with less power to retaliate. Thus, the people who cry violation of freedom of speech too often tend to come from a power group which does not wish restrictions on its abuse of power. What is the individual's responsibility to the community to contribute to harmonious relationships and to a spirit of respect and integrity? Does the community have a right to expect to live without fear? What is the individual's responsibility to the common good? Isn't there a higher moral standard we can apply? We can obey a moral law which calls us to justice and fair play for all, including the less powerful, whether it is legislated or not. My position is not based on democratic law as much as it is based on the premise that "we can either live together as brothers and sisters or die together as fools," in Martin Luther King's words. Harassment policies prevent us from attempting to diminish the integrity of groups with lesser power. In the interest of harmoniously living together on our overcrowded, pluralistic planet, surely we can adopt a moral stance that will keep us from the infighting which would assure our mutual destruction. BEVERLY DALE Executive Director Christian Association