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Re "The Price of Free Speech" [Oct. 4]: I have many reasons to dislike Fred Phelps. His church picketed the funerals of my mother and father, who had once counterpicketed him with signs saying, "God is love." However, I have come to peace with his existence and even believe he ironically does some good as a living caricature of intolerance. By exposing his distorted soul, he serves to remind us that we must love and care for one another, regardless of race, creed or sexual orientation. Thomas Jefferson could not have imagined someone like Phelps when he declared in his Inaugural Address, "Let [those who threaten the union] stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it." Still, our reason is free to combat Phelps, and he cannot threaten a people whose central tenets are freedom and tolerance.

Tim Averill, BEVERLY, MASS.

The Westboro Baptist Church is not exercising a right to free speech with protests at our heroes' funerals; these people are engaging in libertine behavior. I don't think this is what Congress had in mind when the First Amendment was passed.

Luis Rivera, TAMPA

What the Westboro uglies do is a form of assault. There are perfectly good laws governing that crime; they should be applied.

Jo Manning, MIAMI BEACH

The picture of Corporal Matthew Snyder's father Albert says it all: anguish at its most visceral. I am a veteran, and my husband grew up in Maryland, so we've been following this case closely. We Kansans are as mad as hell that we have to put up with those hatemongers Fred Phelps and his family. I am just grateful that in the midst of his pain, Snyder has the guts to expose these people for what they are, terrorists hiding behind the First Amendment.

Kathleen Butler, WICHITA, KANS.

Instead of giving more publicity to Phelps, why don't you salute those who are trying to protect families from him? The Patriot Guard Riders are an inspiring group of motorcyclists who attend military funerals at the invitation of family members and act as a shield between the protesters and mourners.

Cortney Mahony, NEW YORK CITY

Phelps and his insane group of followers will one day find out whom God loves and who has been a spectacular disappointment. God bless Albert Snyder and all our servicemen and -women and their families.

Jesse V. Sealey, YANKTON, S.D.

Sea Change