Free speech provokes clamor.

• Position: Readers Respond

You totally misconstrue ("Let free speech ring," Schwab, October) the substance of the objections to the engagement of Hanan Ashrawi at Colorado College as the keynoter for its symposium entitled "September 11: One Year Later." The objections had nothing to do with the cherished right of free speech and free expression. Rather it had to do with choosing the wrong person for the wrong forum on the wrong topic.... It was not "narrow-mindedness" that objected to Hanan Ashrawi; it was a genuine desire for learning and for grieving that motivated those of us to object to a keynoter who has no credentials for opining and moralizing about the tragedy and Its aftermath of September 11th.

Even M. Zuckermen, associate director, Anti-Defamation League. Denver

Open debate and free expression is what makes us as Americans different. However, the timing of this symposium, with such a speaker as Ms. Ashrawi, who represents a group of people who celebrated the 9/11 tragedy by dancing in the streets, was completely inappropriate and tasteless. I wonder how we would have received a Japanese spokesperson on our soil on Dec. 7,1945. I think you and I both know how disgusted Americans would have been.

David D. Nelson, vice president. Maytag Aircraft Corp., Colorado springs

I totally agree with your editorial. I was shocked at the outrage directed at the college for allowing the speaker. When I attended CSU in the early 60's, we had a bunch of very controversial speakers: George Wallace, governor of Alabama, Ross Barnett, governor of Mississippi, and George Lincoln Rockwell, head of the American Nazi Party. There were great turnouts, and It was very Interesting to be exposed to their very unpopular views (at least In these parts) on the...