To the Editor:

I’ve been following the outrage over Potsdam Town Board member Christine Paige’s Facebook comments about Trump.

First, let’s all take a breather and remember that the purpose of the First Amendment is to protect free speech, especially free speech we don’t like or agree with.

Second, must public officials surrender their First Amendment right to free speech while in office, even though that speech does not impinge on the performance of their duties? No doubt there are members of the Potsdam Town Board whose political views I strongly disagree with. So what, as long as they’re doing their job?

And let me ask this: if a Board member praised Trump on Facebook (ignoring, of course, his comments on minorities) would there be calls for censure or demands for resignation? You can’t have it both ways.

It may have been unwise for a Board member to express negative comments about Trump is a community supporting him and his allies (I will neither name names nor point fingers here), but that’s the choice Ms. Paige made. Folks, get over it.

There are more productive ways to spend your time than to bluster about Ms. Paige’s Facebook comments. Really.

Judith Funston
Norwood