[img]2177|right|Suzanne Robins||no_popup[/img]Too bad the room for yesterday’s Chamber of Commerce officer installation luncheon at the DoubleTree was not lined with schoolchildren.
They likely would have benefited far more than the grownups.
Former teacher Sue Robins, now a member of the School Board, doubling as Vice Chair of the Chamber, delivered the speech of her life.
Typically when a Chamber member is invited to plant a Thought for the Day with the audience, people yawn, scratch and comment about what they are eating.
Fittingly, Ms. Robins’s image is as a serious person.
On a day commonly reserved for light chatter, she rang through memorably 24 hours after three Muslim terrorists spilled the blood of a dozen Parisians, mostly journalists, cartoonists.
“Freedom of speech is in our Bill of Rights, our First Amendment, as a matter of fact.
“We, as free people, believe in this inalienable right, which was attacked so violently yesterday in another country of free people.
“Today I find myself considering the significance of this important right, in our country, in our state, in our cities, in our lives.
“Now more than ever, we must defend the right of freedom of speech.
“Engage in dialogue with those who have a different perspective.
“Respect the right of others to have a different opinion.
“Disagree without being disagreeable.
“We must do this because diversity of perspective and open dialogue will move us forward as a society.
“My thoughts today are with the families of the people killed in Paris, those who were exercising their right to free speech.
“And the men and women of our military and police force – they defend and protect our right to free speech.
“Voltaire says, ‘I do not agree with what you say. But I will defend to the death your right to say it.’”
