To the Editor:How blissful it must be to a liberal in America now. To be able to alter reality in your own mind to suit your needs. I guess it would be even better if they were able to spin the 2000 election into something they could stomach. Wonder why they can't? I suppose we all need to be angry about something. I really feel I must help Leroy Heeren. Free speech in America is alive and well, thanks to the Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, … and YES George W. Bush! Free speech is making a triumphant comeback in Iraq too. Where free speech is hurting, is here in Luverne where not all letters to the editor are printed. Only the ones that are not too controversial. (Lori you didn't think I would let that die that easily did you?)*OK Leroy, let me explain the difference between the woman in Iraq that was punished by the despot Saddam, and the Dixie Chicks. Free speech means you can say most anything (short of threats) and you will not be prosecuted. It does not, however, mean there are not consequences for your actions. Now, I understand as a liberal there is not a lot of understanding about consequences of actions. It is always another's fault. It was the "Vast right wing conspiracy". The woman in Iraq, pre liberation, was wrongly punished for speaking out about the dictator. The Dixie Chicks were not punished. They did however suffer consequences for their actions. The radio stations and the people that run them are capitalists. If enough people like me call in and say they are not going to tune in again if they continue to play the Dixie Chicks, they begin to see that their stations listenership may drop causing them to lose money. Given the choice of losing market share and therefore money, or supporting the careers of the Dixie Chicks, they are going to look out for number one every single time. Likely also, because they understand that the country is run by the Republican Party, and there will be no social program created to support them if they choose to forsake capitalism. Let me put it in even simpler terms. If you tell your boss to take a long walk off a short pier, you will not be thrown in jail. You also will not have to go back to work with that boss. You were not prosecuted, but you did suffer consequences. I really doubt you will be put on any list for your letter. Unless you really believe they are coming to Luverne, Minn., for you. In that case you may just make the roster at the padded facility.As for the liberal media, you can have them. The Republicans have the Judicial, and the Executive branches, along with the House, and the Senate. That is where the real work is done.Now, for you few that want to play this "support the troops but not the President" game. As a troop I just want to say Pfffffft! Protest with your vote November 2004. And good luck, you’re going to need it.Joseph Baloun USNR*The Star Herald letters policy prohibits publication of letters containing personal attacks. Rather, it encourages expression of opinion in letters that focus on issues — not on one person’s description of another’s character.
