It's only words

 They want to set up some rules in our neighborhood. Nothing too draconian. Instead of "no signs" they want to allow "some signs" in our yards because, after all, people are locked in all day. Signs are a way to communicate. But no "sign wars," they say, and no signs that "cause offense."

"That won't work," one neighbor announces. "Offense is in the eye of the beholder," and who will decide what's allowed and what's forbidden? Of course, "offense" might also be the choice of the offended... and whose choice is right?

Someone put up a sign saying "Unborn lives matter," and I wondered, should that offend, or should it just invite the passerby to think? By contrast, a sign saying "Abortion is murder" felt much different, and felt wrong. After all, we can (most of us) agree that murder is against the law. So this statement accuses (unknown, unspoken) neighbors of breaking the law. I may not be one of the accused, but, on behalf of my friends, I  find that offensive.

Again, there was the sign saying "Build a wall," where, for myself, I'd rather build bridges. The sign can't force me to build anything, and it doesn't tell me what to think; just what my neighbor thinks. But a sign saying "Stop the Steal" feels wrong because... well, we can (most of us) agree that stealing or theft is against the law. So this statement accuses (unknown, unspoken) neighbors of breaking the law, and I find that offensive.

Accusations attack, and we shouldn't be in the business of attacking our neighbors. But instigating dialog (is that building bridges?) is something different. So... maybe it doesn't need to be about not causing offense, or building fences and walls. Maybe... there could just be one (old) simple rule:

"Thou shalt not bear false witness (or unjustifiably accuse) thy neighbor." 

What do you think?