BUT WE DIDN'T INHALE

Alexander Pope, in his Essay on Criticism, makes the
definitive comment on Kieran King's defence of freedom of speech (Free
Speech Goes Up In Smoke At School - front page, June 20). He wrote, "A
little learning is a dangerous thing." Kieran's complaint that he is
being denied freedom of speech can be put to rest by reading Section 1
of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which "guarantees the rights
and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits
prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and
democratic society."

Kieran does not understand that his freedom of speech breaches
reasonable limits when he proselytizes on behalf of marijuana. And he
doesn't understand that responsibilities attach to rights. In this
case, he has the responsibility of being sure that his protest does
not interfere with the other students' right to an education. He was
fortunate to receive only a three-day suspension.

Alistair Thomson

Oshawa, Ont