Tell Hetrick

Back in September, my wife Cheri and I walked to breakfast at a downtown restaurant. On our way home, we happened upon the about-to-begin Labor Day parade. Some of the organizers were handing out yard signs that said “Health Insurance Reform Now.” Cheri requested one from a volunteer and put it up in our front yard. As CEO of an organization with nearly all women employees and, therefore, with very expensive insurance, health reform is very important to Cheri.

A few weeks, later, we received a letter in the mail from the company that manages our neighborhood association. The letter was copied to all the members of our neighborhood association. It asked us to remove the sign. It said the only signs allowed in our neighborhood are real estate signs.

During last fall’s election, we had signs in our yard for political candidates. No one complained. But somehow, health insurance reform struck a nerve that neither Republican nor Democrat candidates could match. I also found no reference to signs in my copy of our neighborhood covenants. Nonetheless, out of respect for the offended party or parties, I removed the sign.

Should I have done so? In a nation with guaranteed rights to free speech, should any of us be limited in what we can and can’t advocate on our own property? If so, what’s out of bounds and why?