Letters: Free speech does come with strings
Re “‘Duck’ and a free society,” Opinion, Dec. 24
Like many conservatives chiming in on the “Duck Dynasty” controversy,
Jonah Goldberg appears to hold a fundamental misunderstanding of free speech: It is the freedom to say what you want without fear of government persecution, which is different from freedom from criticism.
“Duck Dynasty” patriarch Phil Robertson exercised his free-speech rights when he uttered offensive comments about gay men and women. His critics then used their free-speech rights. Cable network A&E, which isn’t the government, had a right to suspend Robertson in response.
In his Dec. 23 Times article, television critic Robert Lloyd wrote, “That such defenses of free speech are also attacks on free speech is just one irony in an affair rich with them.” Goldberg proves him right.
Howard Cheng
Thousand Oaks
Anyone who has read the 1st Amendment knows that Robertson’s suspension does not involve the right of free speech. Yet people who should know better keep trying to make freedom the issue.
Similarly, certain groups use their interpretation of religion as cover for their nefarious points of view and as a basis to exercise their intolerance. Shame on them.
Steven Codron
West Hills
Goldberg had my support until the last two sentences. He wrote:
“The children of [Thomas] Paine, empowered by their sense of cosmic justice, want all of society’s oars to pull as one. And if you don’t pull your oar to the beat of their drum, prepare for their wrath.”
I rowed in college and started again after I retired. I learned early that when we are in the same boat, we have to row together to make progress. My rowing partner and I may differ, but even in the larger society there are some activities in which we do best when we pull as one.
Please keep writing, Mr. Goldberg, but steer clear of rough water in the metaphors.
Bruno Vieri
Rancho Palos Verdes
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