Dear Editor:
This letter is written in response to Danny Landers letter published Feb. 6 castigating the News Tribune for not censoring some letters published in "Your Opinion."
First of all, a rant is defined (re: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rant?s=t) as "to speak or declaim extravagantly or violently; talk in a wild or vehement way; rave." A childish rant is what I always called a tantrum (re: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tantrum?s=t) and defined as "a violent demonstration of rage or frustration; a sudden burst of ill temper."
I have never read any letters in "Your Opinion" that I would call a tantrum or even a rant. I have read many letters that express strong opinions about issues and responses to folks that express strong opinions. I think responses to those letters are made by folks just so those opinions will not stand without an opposing view and those that call these opposing views a rant are out of line.
For anyone to have the belief that a newspaper or any public media outlet should have the power to ignore the intent of the First Amendment is wrong. Yes, they have the power and the right as a newspaper to include whatever they think will keep the business profitable, but as with any business, the most important thing for profitability is to provide a product that will sell. Right now I am so sick of global warming letters I could throw up. (oh oh, I forgot since the cold winter, the problem now is "climate change." How dumb is that term?) Anyway, back to the subject, I will always support Tony Smith's right to write all the letters he wants.
Since liberals have no legitimate argument to support and promote their ideology their only hope for continuing to gain control of our lives is to limit and or control free speech that is troublesome to them. This is and has been done for so long it is now a part of political correctness (PC). If anyone disagrees with them, they are labeled extremists or radicals or they are personally attacked by saying their speech is a rant or their comments were racist or sexist.
This letter is written as an attempt to describe a serious problem we have as a nation and if honest public discourse continues to be limited and/or controlled by political correctness and/or fear of chastisement then we are finished as a free country.