Free Speech and Bombing

* Re “Lunacy in Protest’s Name Isn’t New,” Column Right, by George Will, April 25:

By George, it gives me great pleasure to see the purveyors of government-bashing backpedal so quickly from their militia cronies. As the government cleans up the rubble and lives in Oklahoma City, makes an arrest within hours, sets in motion directives to ensure the safety of government workers across the country, Will and others must save face by stating that killing children is akin to John Brown’s trek into Harper’s Ferry. Please.

I must agree with the President that free speech, like all our other rights, comes with responsibilities. I don’t see the “liberal” Americans (yes, we still exist) shooting doctors, blowing up children, or espousing hate toward groups that do not look, love, worship, etc., exactly like them.

We are all responsible for the explosion of cynicism gripping America. Fueling the fires are the conservative talk show hosts offering no solutions short of anarchy. Let’s have one day set aside to emphasize what’s great about this country. I’ll bet some on the right will have more difficulty with that than siding with the bombers.

GARY GRAY

Costa Mesa

* How nice that Sylvia Majeski and other “individualists” oppressed by the federal government have found sympathetic neighbors in Kingman, Ariz. (April 26).

They ignore the fact that Kingman’s economic well-being depends almost entirely on the Feds. Federally financed Interstate 40 brings in truckers who stop at Kingman’s gas stations, motels and restaurants (and don’t forget all those tourists on their way to federally financed national parks and recreation areas of Arizona and Utah). Kingman’s power and water come from the taxpayer-built Hoover Dam and federal Colorado River water projects. The town’s sizable retiree community lives on (gasp) Social Security and federally insured investments.

Since the rugged individualists of Kingman want to harbor lunatics and get the Feds off their backs, let’s grant them their wish. Demolish those exit ramps from the Interstate, cut off the Colorado River water and power! Let them cash their Social Security checks in Barstow.

AL LAWSON

Oxnard

* You state that “the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has been at the front in the fight against the militias” (April 28). Really? Who appointed the BATF to fight against law-abiding citizens? Against citizens engaged in an activity of which the Bill of Rights specifically approves.

Not incidentally, the “militia” is every able-bodied male U.S. citizen between the ages of 17 and 45, female members of the National Guard and former members of the regular armed forces under the age of 64.

And please note, the militias you write so sloppily about are not anti-government. They are pro-Constitution.

BRIAN C. PUCKETT

Los Angeles

* Robert McElvaine’s commentary (April 28) equates the depiction of violence in movies and on TV with the hate-filled rhetoric on talk radio in contributing to a climate of violence and anti-social behavior.

McElvaine makes the point that liberals view talk radio as the culprit, calling movies and TV the exercise of free speech, while conservatives see the enemy clearly as movies and TV, applauding talk radio.

However, McElvaine overlooks what I believe to be a very important element. The violence of movies and TV is fictional. That doesn’t mean it is not a contributing factor, but it is fictional.

Talk radio, on the other hand, refers to reality--real names, real places, real events. The targets are clearly pointed out, or shall we say “aimed at.”

DAVID SAXON

Sherman Oaks

* The hate-makers of radio hide behind the curtain of entertainment. They are too clever to shout “Fire!” in the crowded auditorium of America. Instead they denounce the building, puke on the audience, glorify political arson and act genuinely surprised when the firestorm erupts. Worst of all, they get paid for their irresponsibility. These cowards are playing with history’s ugliest matches and they’ll get burned alive.

ROBERT BIRCH

Tujunga

* Regarding your April 25 article on Junction City, Kan.: My sister and I have lived in Los Angeles for 20 years, but grew up in Junction City. We know it well, as one of us recently lived there for three months and we both still visit on a regular basis. Our parents still live there and work as a medical doctor and nurse.

To say “farmers form the core of a larger subculture of men and women who may not be militiamen, but who are sympathetic to their extreme beliefs” is untrue and a great exaggeration. The great majority of people in this town are genuine, giving, cultured, caring, aware and intelligent and in no way support the insane paranoia of the militia.

Your two reporters barely scratched the surface of this small Midwestern town, and by negatively portraying it they continue to feed the negative flames which threaten to engulf our whole nation.

JAN BUNKER

JILL JAXX

Rancho Palos Verdes