Posted by:
steve benson
(
)
Date: February 15, 2017 08:32PM
I received the following email from someone writing under the fictional cover-name of "Owner." Someone needs to tell this person that they don't own other people's opinions for them or the timeline as to when they should be expressed. (This kind of mindset is regularly seen in Mormonism and other forms of authoritarian-based, institutionalized mindsets).
(P.S.: I am editing in more of the Complainer's responses as they are received. I also tweaked the subject line to reflect more accurately what is going on here).
--From the Complainer, initiallyr:
"Mr. Benson,
"Is it possible to change the subject of your daily sketch? It is overdone, boring, and done over and over and over again. We could use a new theme.
"If you consider this hate mail that is not how it is intended. So many people I know who read the paper feel OK you do not like certain people , we do, so what? Everyone of us have good and bad in us. But boredom due to lack of subject material simply breeds HO HUM. Please see if you can come up with something new and different.Now see how nicely this was said."
--My reply:
"No. I draw my views. You write yours.
"Is it possible for you to change the topic of your emails? That’s up to you. The content of my cartoons is up to me.
"And who is this collective 'we' for whom you speak and when did they designate you as their 'owned' spokesperson?
"Thanks for writing."
_____
--The Complainer's response:
"I have tried to be polite but you have not. Shame on you . I guess you not only draw nasty but you also write nasty. I do not have to tell you who 'we ' are as they are my friends who feel you are impossible to have a civil conversation with so why bother? I trtied and they are right.
"Nasty is what benson is.
"Your welcome for your curt and insincere reply"
--My reply:
"With all due respect, you did not answer my question.
"Who is the 'we' for whom you speak as to their group view that my cartoons are 'overdone' and 'boring'? Please be specific.
"Moreover, where in the U.S. Constitution does it say that I am to support your point of view, even if it means editing my view, changing the expression of my view and/or aligning the timing of my view in order to align it with your preferred subject/view?
"These are not 'nasty' questions. They simply go to:
"(a) the basis of your assertions; and
"(b) the heart of the First Amendment right for me to disagree with you (and for you to disagree with me) as to when I express my views.
"Please note that I am not asking you to alter either your view or the timing of it. I am merely inquiring as to certain details that your initial email to me naturally raise.
"Welcome to America."
Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2017 10:27PM by steve benson.