The Pledge of Allegiance states that we are a republic. We are a government of the people, for the people, by the people. Our Constitution guarantees us precious freedoms. Freedoms so precious that since their inception, men and women have been dying to protect them from those who would destroy them.
I believe that one of the greatest of these freedoms is the freedom of speech—to be able to stand up and say who we are and what we believe without fear.
I wish to express my disappointment that one week before elections the letters to the editor did not give equal weight to the opinions of both Democrats and Republicans. We had solid candidates on both sides. They could have easily stood on their merits against a balanced forum of public scrutiny.
Our elected officials will represent all the people of this valley. It is only when they are given an ear to the voices of all they represent that they can govern wisely.
What are you so afraid of hearing? I can only hope that you are not afraid to print this.
Sheila McBroom
Ketchum
Editor's note: The allegation that the Express gave some sort of preference to letters of any particular political leaning is absolutely false. Every letter to the editor received before the established deadline in advance of the elections, and which met the very broad, basic criteria set forth for publication, was printed in the Express in October. What was published was the balance of what was submitted. Any difference in weight for or against any candidates came only as the end result of the opinions of readers who wrote in. If your candidates were not the subject of as many letters of support as their opponents, it's simply because not as many were submitted.
