The Sterling Stage, 6134 E. Hwy. 290
Support Freedom of Speech and Choice
RECEIVED Mon., Feb. 13, 2006
Dear Editor,
Regarding the indignation over the cover of the Jan. 27 Chronicle [“The New Texas Family Planning,” News]; should we riot and burn in protest, as our contemporaries in the Middle East are doing in retaliation for recent cartoon depictions of their prophet?
Supposedly, our country was founded on freedom of speech and a free press. Celebrate that by taking this opportunity to discuss the issues that were raised by the Chronicle, rather than wasting so much sweat and energy over the picture. I applaud the Chronicle for boldly tackling an issue that has grown so devisive in our society. Thank you, Chronicle, for causing us to pause and think. Sounds like you did your job.
The following week, I stopped for breakfast and a copy of the Chronicle at the new Summer Moon Coffee House on South First Street. The newsstand was empty. I asked the clerk if they had already run out. She said that they had stopped “allowing” the Chronicle to be distributed there because they'd found one of the covers “offensive.”
I said, “So, you are censoring.” She just giggled and said, “I guess so.”
Granted, Summer Moon has a right to their decision to stop carrying the Chronicle. Remember, we live in a land that guarantees our freedom of speech and our freedom of choice (pun intended). But, I'm reminded of the time that this great (and weird) city's residents boycotted HEB stores when they refused to carry the Chronicle because they found it offensive. HEB felt the pinch, and they quickly reversed their stand on the issue and began carrying the issues in their stands. Needless to say, I will exercise my freedom of speech and choice, and I will stop spending my dollars at Summer Moon and any other place that would censor the American press. Censorship is just plain bad news.
Regarding the indignation over the cover of the Jan. 27 Chronicle [“The New Texas Family Planning,” News]; should we riot and burn in protest, as our contemporaries in the Middle East are doing in retaliation for recent cartoon depictions of their prophet?
Supposedly, our country was founded on freedom of speech and a free press. Celebrate that by taking this opportunity to discuss the issues that were raised by the Chronicle, rather than wasting so much sweat and energy over the picture. I applaud the Chronicle for boldly tackling an issue that has grown so devisive in our society. Thank you, Chronicle, for causing us to pause and think. Sounds like you did your job.
The following week, I stopped for breakfast and a copy of the Chronicle at the new Summer Moon Coffee House on South First Street. The newsstand was empty. I asked the clerk if they had already run out. She said that they had stopped “allowing” the Chronicle to be distributed there because they'd found one of the covers “offensive.”
I said, “So, you are censoring.” She just giggled and said, “I guess so.”
Granted, Summer Moon has a right to their decision to stop carrying the Chronicle. Remember, we live in a land that guarantees our freedom of speech and our freedom of choice (pun intended). But, I'm reminded of the time that this great (and weird) city's residents boycotted HEB stores when they refused to carry the Chronicle because they found it offensive. HEB felt the pinch, and they quickly reversed their stand on the issue and began carrying the issues in their stands. Needless to say, I will exercise my freedom of speech and choice, and I will stop spending my dollars at Summer Moon and any other place that would censor the American press. Censorship is just plain bad news.
Julie Bougette
