Thankfully, in a democracy, we never have that guarantee. To have it would mean we would be living in a police state which has the capacity to shut everything down. It's no secret that a bomb threat by any kook or mischief-maker, let along someone who is really dangerous, would shut down almost any meeting like lightening. Ours was shut down, apparently, by much milder talk. What we lost was the open airing of information which the community needs and which is vital to its democratic governance.
Public meetings stand both as an organ and as a powerful symbol of open government.
Let me urge you to do everything within the scope of your power and conscience to assure that public meetings are preserved and sustained, and that threats of rowdiness or disruption are not enough to wilt your resolve. Congratulations to Council members Bob Ryan and Barbara Ryan, who, according to the Herald, expressed views indicating that the cancellation was not in order. I hope that the events of recent date, including this incident and others, do not constitute a trend, and that when it comes to meetings, parades, and other public expressions, Bellingham is not beginning to think it's ok to relegate speech to second-class citizenship, and sacrifice it too readily to the god of ordinary order.