Dear Editor:  

You donot have the right to not be offended. You do have the right to find something offensive. That in turn, does not give you the right to cancel or threaten the messenger. I am offended every day by things that I don’t like to see or hear. Welcome to the United States and the First Amendment.  

Most recently, I came to find out that several people whom I hold in high regard as friends and upstanding members of our community are offended by my First Amendment right to post opinions in the local newspaper. Perhaps, if you take a closer read of my editorial, “Take Stock Progressives,”you’ll find that the letter was submitted prior to any one knowing the outcome of the election. It was posted after the fact. I believe the editor of this paper can testify to that. Perhaps then you can read the words for what they actually mean.  

Those on the left of centerdon’t seem to consider the terms used by their cohorts as detrimental, divisive or worse, a call to violent action. I ask you, who was almost assassinated twice in the run-up to the last election? Do you find it acceptable? Who used the rhetoric that spurred those demented individuals?   

I am not any of the things foisted upon me by the “Liberals.” Groups or organizations that want to force feed their ideology on “We the People” are un-American. Yes, live and let live, keep it out of my face and in turn, face the consequences of your personal decisions. It’s not my problem or business, so don’t make it such.  

John Splaine 

West Boothbay Harbor