I've got mixed feelings on this subject.  First, though I'm a pretty ardent
supporter of free speech, the constitution doesn't apply to this, as it is a
private forum.  If you try to write a letter to the editor of the Arizona
Republic stating your pro-Nazi leanings (Yes, I know you don't have any),
you'll find it either heavily edited or not published at all.  However,
should you choose to air those same feelings on state supported air time, no
one can tell you that you cannot say whatever you happen to feel, no matter
how much it offends those around you.

Gerry is a fairly open and free-wheeling forum, and things are said on
occasion that offend one person or another.  Generally, we don't take too
much offense at anther's opinions, and generally, you don't see very many
off-color comments either.  We are probably a pretty good cross section of
Americana, other than that we probably don't have a very strong minority
population (We could probably get away with that "N word" and only offend
those who choose to be sensitive).  We have some Hispanics, some Jews, some
gays.  We probably have fat folks.  We even got women!

I, for one, will not say anything nasty about any of them (even though I do
enjoy my share of off-color humor) simply because I try to appreciate other
folks sensitivities (yeah, me) and I don't want to offend anyone (much).

If Terry, or you, or anyone else, wants to make an impassioned plea for why
genocide is a good thing, or why all folks with an IQ of under 120 should be
neutered, I'll support that persons right to free speech.  I'll even do it
if that person is say, a hard core women's libber, and wants to make an
argument for why all males should be put to death (yes, I've seen that one
in print, too).

However, I don't stand by the rights of someone using a private forum to
personally attack another member of said forum.  I do not support the right
of anyone on this private forum to offend others on this forum.

Should Tom prefer to allow this, so be it.  Some will be offended and
perhaps some will leave.  Whether to allow this is Tom's decision.  Should
Tom decide to ban any offenders from this list, I'll support him on that,
too.

Free speech is a wonderful thing.  It is not guaranteed to anyone in a
private forum.  If you wish to piss people off, get yourself on publicly
funded television.

Karl Wolz