Reaction to Simple Kiss Is Beyond Belief

What a sick society we Americans have created for ourselves! (“Peppers’ Peck Stirs Bushel of Controversy,” Calendar, Sept. 7). That a photo of a playful public smooch by two heterosexual men would lead to a possible boycott of the magazine Guitar and outraged retailers angrily announcing their decision to stop carrying it is utter idiocy. What’s next? Editing TV broadcasts of European and Latin American sporting events, where affectionate kissing between men is routine, so as not to offend puritanical Americans? These days we see knee-jerk hysteria over anything that could remotely be construed as homosexual. Are we so terrified of anything different that we have to wipe it off the face of the planet? Grow up!

RON HARDCASTLE

Los Angeles