Free speech is paramount

Sat., Feb. 7, 2015

Denyse Erdos’ Jan. 26 letter to the editor says “… making fun of someone or someone’s beliefs is disrespectful and should not be the basis for selling magazines.”

While I might agree that it is disrespectful, the more important point is that it is not OK to prohibit or kill people for doing it in a free society.

She may feel that a depiction is distasteful, mean or not funny, but in our society that does not justify official censorship or punishment. The principle of free speech trumps personal sensibility.

Peter Grossman

Spokane

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