Published: June 22, 2008 12:01 am            

Freedom of speech

We know that Payne County commissioners receive complaints about some of the people who use the courthouse lawn to practice free speech. It doesn’t matter whether the commissioners approve or disapprove of the speech — or even know who is speaking. Because they must answer the phone, people will call commissioners to complain. Believe it: we know.

We also know it is sometimes tempting to do what the complainers want because it might keep that phone from ringing for a short time. But when it comes to the First Amendment, the complainers should be told to live with it.

Recently, Payne County commissioners received complaints about the peace vigil that meets Wednesdays on the courthouse lawn. In response, they called the vigil’s organizer, Pat Piety, to the weekly commission meeting and iterated the county’s policy that use of the courthouse lawn requires prior permission. Piety, apparently, never obtained that permission.

This could simply be a harmless reminder to all to ask first. Or — and this would be troubling — it could be a warning that dissent can only go so far.

If the complainers have a problem with peace, they should start an anti-peace vigil. Then they would no longer be complainers, but advocates — people contributing to the exchange of ideas rather than people attempting to stop that exchange.

The courthouse lawn is one of the few public meeting areas in Stillwater with the traffic to make a vigil (or presentation or protest) worthwhile. We hope the commission will continue to cherish such use of this public place. And we trust they know that the complainers will always find something.

        

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