To the Editor:

The comments of Paul M. Muller (“Stop Demonizing,” 12/23),intimatingthat critical and/or polarizing speech by individuals with opposing political viewsstifles “conversation, compromise and consensus or agreement on major issues,” deserve a response.

We are very fortunate to be able to live in a country where the freedom of speech andthe press are rights guaranteed to all U.S. citizens by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

January 13, 2016