A Santorum bumper sticker at a tea party rally. (Associated Press)

I find bumper stickers absolutely fascinating.

Walking around campus, one can see stickers that display slogans like “NoBama2012” and some just the opposite. Pro-life, pro-choice, yay for gay and “family values” stickers also adorn car trunks letting everyone know what the driver supports and professes to. The displays are often comical. These stickers are also a great way to exercise one’s freedom of speech.

I’ve noticed lately, however, that that freedom is being infringed upon by other people. I read a Facebook post the other day from a friend who had a sticker ripped off of her car by another person. Not only did she seem upset because someone vandalized her property, but her bumper sticker supported the rights of many of her friends.

She’s not the first.

Over the past few months I’ve heard from several friends who have had stickers written on, ripped off and scratched out. No matter what the sticker said on it, this is just wrong.

Where I’m from, people place Confederate flags all over trucks, cars and vans. And although I am often enraged at my neighbors’ choice to do so, I understand that it’s not my job to tear that symbol off of their vehicle. I expect the same courtesy from others for my own car.

I’ve often thought about putting my political stickers on my car. Maybe my Obama 2012 campaign sticker, or my Human Right’s Campaign sticker. I openly profess to be a flaming liberal, just as some of my friends will profess to being tea party members. We respect each other.

Therefore, I have one message to those who are ripping bumper stickers off of cars: Don’t touch my car. Don’t try to mutilate my belief statements. And, most importantly, stop being a coward. If you disagree with me, come talk to me. Then we can have an intelligent conversation and compromise or agree to stand apart. There is no need to bring my car into the middle of the conflict.

We are part of a great academic institution that promotes the exchange of ideas, no matter how extreme they may be. Let’s use this privilege and exchange those ideas in a tactful manner.

I do not stand for ignorance, and I do not stand for hate. I do, however, stand for discussion and education, compromise and well-intended confrontation. So let’s get to talking.

Michael is a sophomore majoring in communications studies and religious studies.