The American Spectator

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(Page 5 of 14)

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This is an egregious affront to our constitution, in my view. It is a looming problem that need not exist in this country, or what used to be this country. I would certainly agree that the courts ought to simply refer to the 1st Amendment and throw all these cases out with prejudice.

I have, however, a small question. How is this any different, with the exception of the monetary judgements rendered, than the politically correct speech police within our society that have taken whole categories of discussion out of the public discourse. White folks who are NOT complete PC liberals are virtually banned from discussing anything to do with the black or Hispanic population. Men are essentially banned from discussing a whole range of topics to do with women, including such poisonous phrases as, "My don't you look nice today." Politicians are prohibited from criticizing the views and positions of their opponents without being told that they are "going negative."

When I was a youngster, back in the dark ages, we used to say, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Now it would seem that the operative phrase in society may be, "Sticks and stones are OK, but you better not say anything that offends me." I have never seen so many folks that spend their entire days going around looking for something or someone that offends them. It dang sure ain't the American that I learned to love anymore. Frankly, I have a whole list of categories of folks that I go out of my way to offend, like environmental wackos and tree huggers, and animal rights wackos and PITA, and homosexual rights militants, and Code Pink traitors, and more. A few years ago, I almost bought a Hummer just because it would upset the enviros every time I drove it down the street.

p>Well, I shall keep cheering for Mark Steyn and all in his predicament. May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the armpits of all CAIR members AND their wives. Now does the American Spectator have the cajones to print that insult? br> -- Ken Shreve /p>

Brooke M. Goldstein probably thinks she wrote a column about Islamist threats against free speech. What she really wrote about is the disgraceful evolution of jurisprudence in which unconscionably excessive legal fees have made the pursuit of justice impossible for far too many.

Despite all her ostensible high-mindedness, the bet here is that she, like so many others in her profession, is solidly against a "loser pays -- including court costs" system of litigation. And maybe she and her colleagues can explain why they think they're entitled to $500-plus an hour -- other than the fact that lawyers write most of the laws.

p>Is there any other occupation that can create its "raw material" out of thin air? br> -- Arnold Ahlert

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