Editor, Times-Union: Please permit me to respond to Ms. Deborah Smith's letter in the April 21 issue. I normally do not respond to letters I disagree with, but I feel such a strong compulsion in this case, I cannot resist.
Ms. Smith (Debbie): Despite your vitriol, you could not be more wrong. No one is denying you or Messers Robbins or Vedder or Misses Streisand or Sarandon or Maines their due say. You ARE entirely correct. In the United States of America, they have every right to spew their hatred for the current president. The fact that they are completely wrong, not to mention bordering on seditious, in their criticisms, they do have the right to state them.
What you, and they, fail to understand is that while the First Amendment gives all of us the right to speak freely, it does NOT alleviate us from the responsibility or the free market consequences of that speech.
If you'll remember your government and civics class from school, the First Amendment only protects citizens from governmental reprisals for voicing unpopular statements against the powers that be. That means we can't be thrown in jail for speaking out against a government official or policy.
It most certainly does NOT mean that in a free market, in such a time of crisis, those expressing perverse and reprehensible opinions, such as Robbins, et.al., should be not be held to account by those who spend their money on the offenders' products.
Mr. Gerard and the Times-Union are held to the same standard as those "Hollywood Elites." If you don't like what Mr. Gerard says or the paper publishes, stop buying it. If I don't like what Robbins/Vedder/Sarandon/Streisand/Maines say, I'll stop watching their movies or listening to their music. And, the First Amendment permits me to publicly advocate that others boycott their products as well.
That IS the way our democratic system is supposed to work, Ms. Smith. Perhaps YOU and those "Hollywood Elites" should stop crying and re-read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, because it appears to me that you are in much more of a need of a refresher course of what those documents say and mean than is Mr. Gerard.
The "Hollywood Elites" are wrong, Ms. Smith, and so are you.
God bless our servicemen and women, God Bless America, and, God Bless you, Ms. Smith.
David Beall Warsaw via e-mail
Appreciate Volunteers
Editor, Times-Union: Volunteer Appreciation Week is April 27th through May 3rd and Cardinal Center Inc. is privileged to have an outstanding team of volunteers. As Cardinal Center provides services for children and adults with disabilities, the unique contributions that volunteers make is an indispensable part of our mission. A smile, a caring attitude, a listening ear or unselfish service are just part of the substantial impact made in people's lives by our volunteers. Cardinal Center is a richer organization because of the time and devotion of our volunteers. To each person who gave an investment in the lives of the people we serve, thank you!
