In regards to last week’s editorial on free speech by Scott Tittrington, the new editor of the Culver City News:
I take issue with his comparison of Dee Seehusen, an 80-year-old woman who recently criticized two gay candidates after they were elected to the School Board, with being equivalent to crying fire in a crowded theatre.
Dee Seehusen never overtly said anything disparaging about homosexuals in her letter to the editor.
In fact, as a landlady, she spoke highly of her gay tenants when she wrote a letter to the City Council, explaining why she was unfairly being called homophobic.
If Ms. Seehusen had said she “hated” homosexuals and would never rent to one, the city would then have an actionable case and be justified in firing her from a city commission.
However, the City Council and the politically correct crowd are suffering from homophobic phobia.
They are looking for homophobics under the bed and in the closet, anybody who speaks in defense of free speech.
Meghan Sahli-Wells, a fellow candidate for City Council, went so far as to imply anyone who voted for Prop. 8 was homophobic when she called Prop. 8 a homophobic law. The actual wording on Prop. 8 states, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”
I did not vote for Prop. 8. However, I would not seek to label anyone who did as a homophobic.
Witch hunters are going through contribution records of people who gave money to Prop. 8, and they intend to persecute them.
I was disappointed that the new editor of a newspaper would not rise to the defense of free speech.
Could it be that as a new editor of the Culver City News he does not want to upset the political correctness police?
Perhaps he should look up to Ari Noonan, editor of thefrontpageonline.com, an outspoken defender of First Ammendment rights. Mr. Noonan rightly criticized the City Council for its deplorable actions against Ms. Seehusen.
Mr. Zirgulis, a candidate for City Council in the April 13 election, may be contacted at zirgulisr@yahoo.com
