Marin IJ

Freedom of speech revisited
I read with amusement Kyle Keilman's response to Michelle Shelters' letter (Readers' Forum, July 27). He starts by referring to Ford Greene's signs at the Hub as "deliberately controversial."

Yet he seems offended that someone like Ms. Shelter would take issue with it. If no one voiced an opinion about the sign, then it would not be controversial.

Mr. Keilman seems overly concerned about the treatment of non-combative prisoners at "Gitmo," even though a Senate fact-finding mission to "Gitmo" showed that the prisoners received adequate housing, cultural cuisine and, in some cases, better medical care than some U.S. citizens. Also, the delay in going to trial only shows diligence on the military's part to gather all facts in each case, to ensure fair trials. I'm sure Mr. Greene well understands the value of such. One need only contrast the treatment of the "Gitmo" detainees to the treatment of Allied prisoners during WWII to realize the humane treatment of these enemy combatants. Evidently, the inherent good and sense of fairness of the American people eludes these men.

"I'm afraid we will always have people who try to shut down free speech." warns Mr. Keilman, yet makes no mention of the stifling of free speech imposed by the left, labeling anything said by the right as hate speech, racism or extremism.

People in this country no longer enjoy "free speech" as we once knew it. Mr. Greene is definitely within his rights to share his opinion on serious issues of the day, yet I question his opinions being displayed in such a public way, without any regard for the truth.

Mr. Greene declares that Bush lied, the only president to do so, without any sustainable proof. Rather than give the president the benefit of the doubt in time of grave conflict, he harps on the poor terrorists and our failure to coddle them. I hope neither of these men have forgotten 9/11.

To label the president a liar during times of war is treasonous, and to suggest the president is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths is hate speech in its purest form.To see if tolerance really is a two-way street, I would like the opposite opinion to also be displayed, also at the Hub. I wonder how fast these men would declare that opinion hate speech and extremism, and demand its removal.

Mr. Keilman urges people of good will to support the sign, suggesting any people who do not support the sign are people of bad will. If Mr. Keilman suggests the campaign to silence the sign is un-American, yet seems to believe that slandering the president and our soldiers in time of war, based on his biased opinion, is the American way, he had better not venture out of Marin.

Neil Eberitsch, Fairfax

 

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