Defining Courage and Cowardice

It’s amusing how often Bill Maher, host of a show called “Politically Incorrect,” is taken to task for being, well, politically incorrect (“Troubled Timing Takes Maher Beyond ‘Politically Incorrect,”’ by Paul Brownfield, Sept. 26). It’s as if his detractors are distressed that they are being deprived of the politically sanitized nature of pretty much everything else on TV.

Equally amusing is the tendency of Americans to seek out something to be horribly offended by, Houston radio’s Dan Patrick being a classic case in point. Clearly, Patrick watches “PI” for material for his local radio show, apparently unable to come up with compelling material without the help of Maher, his writers and his guests.

I suppose it’s a good thing that Maher didn’t choose to reference the actions of our military at the close of the Gulf War (brought to us by many of the same people currently in power), where the soldiers described shooting fleeing Iraqi soldiers in the back as a “turkey shoot” before burying many of them alive in open trenches.

That would have gotten our flag-waving brethren’s panties in a real bunch, by jingo. Truth is indeed the first casualty of war. Followed closely by reason and compassion.

CRAIG N. SIMMONS

Sherman Oaks

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It seems folks like Dan Patrick are America’s equivalent of the Taliban. They are simply afraid to let those with different opinions voice their views in a society that always claims to foster and defend free expression.

Should Disney/ABC take Maher and “Politically Correct” off the air, they will be giving tacit support to folks like Patrick and our own version of the Taliban mullahs, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, who frequently declare their love for a purist, Christian America where dissent and opinions different from their own are stifled at will (usually God’s).

Hopefully, Maher will come through this temporary ordeal with a bit more wisdom in the power of the media, and be able to keep his intelligent and politically astute show on the air.

CHRISTIAN F. HOKENSON

Burbank

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I see in Brownfield’s puff piece on Maher, he quoted Susan Sontag in defense of Maher; that is like quoting Ezra Pound in the defense of Joseph Goebbels.

Too bad Maher wasn’t standing under the World Trade Center on Sept. 11; that would have done the nation a better service than he has ever done before.

GERRY MAXEY

Marina del Rey

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Maher is one of the most thoughtful and independent voices on television. The fanatics who have attacked him and his show in the last week represent the abject worst of American society. We must not acquiesce to those who would shout down free speech.

JAMISON SELBY

Los Angeles

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Were the hijackers, the terrorists who flew the airplanes into the twin towers and the Pentagon on Sept. 11 courageous or cowards? Maher’s guest Dinesh D’Souza thinks they were courageous. I do not. I think them the ultimate cowards.

A courageous person would have confronted the people against whom he had committed the deed and challenged them to do something about it. “Sure, I blew up your buildings and killed thousands. What will you do about it?” These cowards lacked the courage to accept the consequences of their deed. They couldn’t accept the retribution that they knew would be forthcoming, so in killing themselves, they took the easy way out, like Hitler.

They are the ultimate cowards. They didn’t believe enough in their deed to justify it to the world. They had no honor. They disgraced their religion and their families. ROBERT S. RODGERS Culver City

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Maher called the acts of the World Trade Center terrorists “not cowardly.” He couldn’t be more mistaken. These terrorists were maniacal cowards that were committed to an insane cause.

If Bill had a sister who was one of the stewardesses who had their throats slashed by these cowards, I’m quite certain he’d understand his poor choice of words.

CHRIS MacDONALD

San Clemente

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Could White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer’s comments about Bill Maher’s rant be any more sanctimonious? I don’t like Maher, I don’t watch his program, but his comments about who may be called cowardly and who may not are on the money.

JEFF MOREHEAD

Los Angeles

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You know we’re in trouble when we turn to a failed-comedian-turned-talk-show-host for advice or analysis.

JOHN SMITH Glendale