Why print name-calling letters?

To the editor:I have had it with the editors of the Southeast Missourian. Every few weeks, they allow Joe Martin to pollute our local paper with nonsense. His published comments invariably consist of allegations regarding some lurking Leftist evil in our midst. Never does he explain why any of these Leftists are so bad. He just calls them names -- Nazis or commies usually -- and somehow sees that as a rational argument on which to base his allegations.

His last submission is, as usual, utterly nonsensical. Take this sentence: "Basically, they are irrelevant pseudo-professorial brainwashers polluting tax-funded government indoctrination centers Karl Marx referred to as public schools, including universities."

1. If they are irrelevant, then why does any of this matter?

2. If they are tax-funded indoctrination centers, why does he care if they get polluted?

3. Karl Marx referred to government indoctrination centers as public schools? Again, what does any of this mean? It's nonsense just convoluted allegations against some unnamed evil.

None of this does anything to further debate amongst the local citizenry. This is just name-calling used as a cover for lack of reason. Why print name-calling? How does that serve the community?

KYLE BURK, Jackson