Offensive Speech

* This letter is in response to your Nov. 21 editorial on the First Amendment. I object to your including Rush Limbaugh as a part of “a far more grotesque exaggeration: namely, the transformation of insult into ‘politically incorrect’ entertainment.” I doubt that the writer of this inaccuracy has listened to Limbaugh or he or she would be unable to honestly make this statement.

Further, to put Limbaugh in the same category with Andrew Dice Clay and Howard Stern is ludicrous. You may not agree with Limbaugh’s politics or his views on radical feminists, but he never is abusive or offensive to women in general as Stern is. Stern presides over trash-mouth radio and whatever happened to Clay?

ROBERT L. FRANZ

Placentia

* After reading your politically correct editorial on “offensive speech,” a question immediately came to mind. Are you and your staff really the Big Brothers who can judge and proclaim what is offensive?

In your quest for political correctness, you fail to acknowledge that the “Beltway boys and girls” find the truth very offensive. After the campaign of 1992 and the distortions and untruths that bought the presidency, the truth is now becoming more apparent by the day.

If you want to abridge the right of free speech, at least admit your position. Hiding behind political correctness and a “fairness doctrine” is an odious editorial position for The Times.

ROY A. BERRY

Palm Springs

* The Times editorialized on the thin line between political correctness and political incorrectness.

Then in the same day’s paper, in Book Review, the Bestsellers list shows Howard Stern’s “Private Parts” and Rush Limbaugh’s “See, I Told You So” as the number one and two best-selling nonfiction books of the week. Margaret Thatcher and Maya Angelou are further down on the list.

This says volumes (no pun intended) about us, doesn’t it? May I suggest a weekly glance at this book list? Very enlightening, indeed.

MARY MEYER

Pasadena