When the Republican National Convention began, my husband brought out his political signs because we want to show our support for the president — just like a “No New Mall” sign shows support for something or a hand- painted “Kerry for President” sign shows support for something.

I am thankful we live in a country where we can be free to express our opinions and we enjoy seeing others do the same.

Now for the sad part. We have noticed that while everyone speaks of freedom and diversity, some people may just mean freedom for expressing their own views. My husband placed his coveted “Vote for Bush” sign in our fenced-in front yard in front of our large window, three feet from our front door.

The day he placed it there, a neighbor I had recently met looked at me, looked at the sign and with a scowl on her face let out a loud “eeooww” for me to hear as she bicycled past.

Is that neighborly? Good-humored kidding is one thing, but I would never think of being rude to a neighbor because he or she had a different opinion than I. A few nights later, the two small Bush political signs we had in front of our fence were stolen. Sadly, I expected some of that. They were right on the corner, and I attribute that to the same type of punks who stole my daughter’s scooter this summer. I told her that it was just an ill-mannered child whose parents were not in control.

On Saturday night, someone walked through our fence, up to our front window and stole our corrugated four-by-eight-foot Bush sign. We had saved it for four years. I feel incredulous that people would walk into my yard to steal my sign, my voice, my right to free speech.

Why? Because they disagree, because they were never taught their manners and because they think diversity is king unless you want to vote for Bush. I am sickened that people would trespass on private property and take anything. I am even more alarmed that they would be more likely to do so because they disagree with an opinion. Are all opinion signs in Ames at equal risk?

I pray that they are not at risk at all and that all people can enjoy the freedom to express diverse opinions and enjoy each other’s differences.

I hoped that people would react with grace and kindness to others with different views.

We believe in democracy and we believe in Bush. I took my young daughter to see him at the Farm Progress Show. We went through hours of waiting in the hot sun because we respect him.

This is America, and freedom of speech should never be a one-way street.

Sara Martin

Alumnus