[at-l] Roks, Roots, and other inconvenciences...

[baltimorejack@hotmail.com (Jack Tarlin)]

  Well, I was right----I shoulda read ALL of my mail before sending anything 
off, I'd have been better informed.

  Hey Roks:

     1. I don't need any lectures from you on Freedom of Speech or First 
Amendment rights; on matters such as these, I'm probably more liberal than 
you.

     2. It has been made very clear that "free speech" is not 
universal----ever heard of the case involving yelling "fire" in a crowded 
theater?  The bottom line is that liberty is not license.  One DOES not have 
the right to say whatever one wishes, wherever one wishes.  One usually 
tempers one's speech with tact, diplomacy, decency, and common sense.

     3. I see that you acknowledge that you weren't in the audience to 
personally witness the events in question, therefore you know nothing about 
the immediate re-action of those present, nor their degree of palpable 
disgust; in short, you're commenting on circumstances you have NO personal 
knowledge or actual experience with.  Excuse me, but this does somewhat 
limit your ability to talk rationally about the subject, and it further 
makes you completely unworthy to judge whether or not my description of the 
episode was factual, complete, fair, or accurate.  In short, you're talking 
about something you really don't know anything about personally.

    4.  You complete your letter with the extraordinary comment:  "BJack, 
don't burn the stage because you were offended by the play....."
        Ya know, Roks, once upon a time I reviewed theater and film, and the 
aboslute CARDINAL, unforgiveable sin was to attempt to review a theatrical 
or cinematic work that the reviewer hadn't actually seen.  Writers tried 
this, of course, usually, with dire results:  They made fools out of 
themselves in print, and frequently lost their jobs.  In short, Roks, please 
give some thought to further discussion of this, but at the very least, it's 
more than a little amusing to see you admonishing me about burning the stage 
when you yourself were not privy to the performance.  That's one way of 
putting it.   Here's another:  I respect your right to comment on any 
subject you wish, in any way you wish, and as often as you wish. That's what 
"free speech" means.   However, in regards to this particular subject, your 
commentary is unfortunately colored by the fact that you simply don't know 
what the hell you're talking about.  Give it a rest.



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