In defense of speech

French philosopher Voltaire is said to have proclaimed: I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. This principle is enshrined as the Freedom of Speech in the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America.

Recently, Mr. Donald Sterling, the owner of Los Angeles Clippers basketball team made blatantly racist comments to his mistress. This woman, for reasons we could only guess, secretly taped his comments, and released them to the press. A huge public hue and cry followed. Mr. Sterling was soundly condemned by one and all, and was banished from the game forever. Now he is under pressure to sell his team.

The tragedy of this incident is that not one person in this country had the guts to defend Mr. Sterling's right to his disgusting views and speech.

There was no evidence that Mr. Sterling ever in any way discriminated against black players on his team. In fact, the local NAACP was about to honor him for his support of black players.

I believe that everyone in this great country has the right to hold disgusting views -- anti-black, anti-gay/lesbian, anti-women, anti-labor, anti-union, anti-immigrants -- and have the right to express them privately with impunity. If one were to be constantly afraid of being ostracized and condemned for his private views and speech, then this country is no different from Communist China.

Let us not replace tyranny of the majority with that of the minority.

K.P.S. KAMATH, Cape Girardeau