THE PUBLIC MIND: READER USES HIS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION TO DEPLORE COMIC STRIP

To the Editor:

Concerning the syndicated cartoon "For Better Or Worse" by Lynn Johnston and the editorial by Robb Blackwell in the March 31 edition of The Capaha Arrow: It greatly concerns me that this comic strip has taken the course which it has. To tell you the truth, what I have seen in the comic strip has made me sick.

Robb Blackwell may be right when he says that "no piece of literature, especially a comic strip, can make a person switch his or her sexual orientation." I am concerned that even if people don't become homosexuals they will begin to tolerate such behavior. There is no place for this behavior in any society.

Homosexuality is not a disease, it is not something that some people are born with. Homosexuality is, to put it simply, a sin! And as with any sin, the sinner is led by the devil to try to get others to agree with what he or she does.

Concerning the issue of censorship: Robb Blackwell states in his article "and in the United States, where we are guaranteed freedom of speech and freedom of press by amendments to the Constitution, censorship cannot be tolerated."

Perhaps Robb Blackwell should read the First Amendment again. It says in its entirety: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and petition the Government for a redress of grievances." I think the key word here is Congress. This amendment gives everyone the right to say what they want, and it gives everyone the right to print a newspaper that says what they want it to say. But it also gives the owners of the newspapers the right to be selective in what they put in the newspaper. If one man gets his article printed in a newspaper and another disagrees with the article and sends in his own, he is at the mercy of the newspaper as to whether the article is printed or thrown into the trash. That is one of the things that makes America great.

Having presented my argument clearly, I hereby ask that the comic strip "For Better or Worse" be dropped from this paper.

Timothy D. Fish

Zalma