Do they even read it?

This letter to the editor appeared in the Tribune yesterday:

This is in response to George E. Sexton’s Feb. 5 letter. It stated that only Real Ameri­cans who do not protest to change the laws of this country are entitled to the rights given to us by the Constitution.

As Americans we are entitled to many rights. Chief among these is the freedom of speech.

Because of this we are not only allowed but we are encouraged to speak out when we do not agree with something. What makes this country great is our freedom to protest against things we feel are being done wrong.

An example is protesting against an unjust and illegal war that kills more and more Real Americans every day.

Protesting at funerals is a des­picable act, but it does not give us the right to make a blanket accusation that all people who speak out are traitors. The ability of everyday people working for change is what makes this coun­try great.

I suggest that before people start citing the Constitution they read it and understand its mean­ing.

— Eric Bush, Great Falls

Do these people even read their letters? Our anger at "protesting at funerals," according to Mr. Bush, "does not give us the right to make a blanket accusation that all people who speak out are traitors."

Given that the entire point of his letter is that "before people start citing the Constitution they [should] read it and understand its meaning," I would appreciate it if Mr. Bush would read the Constitution and point out to the rest of us where, in the First Amendment, our rights to make blanket accusations are limited. Maybe before constitutional scholars presume to lecture us about the meaning of that great document, they might want to get down off their high horses...?