Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 1, 1990                   TAG: 9007020266
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

DEFEND EVERYONE'S RIGHT TO STATEMENT

I agree with most Americans; it hurts me to see anyone burn our flag. It hurts me because people are saying that they strongly oppose something America is doing - oppose it so vehemently that they must resort to burning our flag to show their disapproval.

That is why it is so crucial to defend every person's right to make a statement. Our country was built on the right of every American to have a say; on the right of every American to express their feelings, even if you and I don't agree with them. That's why America is called a free country!

We must defend, with our very lives if necessary, the foundation upon which this great country of ours was built. And the cornerstone of that foundation is the First Amendment: our guarantee to speak our mind, even if what we say is unpopular. KEVIN E. MARTIN ROANOKE