CHICAGO, August 24, 2011—David Letterman is the late night host you hate to love and love to hate. In a word, he is annoying. However, he took a big, bold, courageous step on Monday. 

A while back he made some jokes on his show about Al Qaeda leaders. The internet came alive with the usual jihadist and Al Qaeda crazies threatening mayhem, including cutting his tongue out and breaking his neck. 

This often happens when people offend political extremists. The crazies come out of the woodwork to demand a groveling apology and to demand that people not offend them, whatever that means. In this new era of polite and politically correct speech, we cave in to others in an orgy of self censorship, anxious to cater to their tender sensitivities and avoid their wrath. We back down. 

On his first day back from vacation, Letterman struck back. Not only was he funny, he was refreshing. Unlike the cowards and milquetoasts from other talk shows, news shows, and media outlets, Letterman did not back down. He showed no fear of the infamous Politically Correct Police, nor did he grovel for fear that “something” might happen. He stood up to his wannabe tormentors and gave as good as he got. 

More surprising, CBS aired it. The video is at the end of this article. 

Letterman proved there is no reason to fear. Not one thing happened as a result of his monologue. You pesky politically correct cowards and multi-culti macaroons take note; you cowardly media executives and producers pay attention: Nothing happened. A few internet crazies went ballistic, but it was all blowing smoke. No one paid any attention. 

It’s about time. We are Americans. We will not be afraid to speak. We have freedom of expression, the press, and speech. We should never be afraid to invoke those freedoms. Every time we back down, whether for fear of reprisal or fear of harming tender sensitivities, we lose a bit of our freedom. 

We should not let anyone tell us what we can say. We must never give up the right to criticize, reproach, or lambast anyone, any idea, any religion, or any political movement.   

There is offensive speech, tasteless speech, what some call hate speech, and some kinds of expression are truly horrendous. However, almost all speech is protected, free speech. We don’t have to like it. We just have to accept it.  

We have the right to denigrate ideas and to poke fun at them, whether those ideas are political or religious. We have the right to to say or express just about anything we want. We have the right to use ugly words, and we have the right to ignore or condemn people who use them. What we do not have the right to do is censor them.

Fear is the ultimate censor. 

Americans should never fear violent reprisals from anyone. When they attempt to subvert our freedoms through fear, others should fear reprisals from us. Just because they fear our freedom does not mean we have to capitulate to their fears. Just because they impose harsh censorship on their own people does not mean we should abide by it. There is a name for people who play by other people’s rules: losers. 

David Letterman is not afraid. He stood up to those who would take his freedom and fought back. He fought back with humor. He told the haters to get in line. There is a long line of haters ahead of them; take a number and wait. 

Publicly burning a Quran, burning a flag, writing scathing or insulting editorials, demeaning Christian icons, and drawing cartoons of the Prophet are all protected expression. 

Criticize or condemn, yes. Censor, never.  

There is a positive effect here. The threats against Letterman demonstrated clearly that Al Qaeda is a bunch of insane, bloodthirsty lunatics, criminals who hide behind a warped ideology. Their ideology is anathema to freedom. They showed the whole world why they should be destroyed. No one, especially governments, should ever try to play nice with them. 

We should poke fun at them. Make them the butt of jokes. Make them look as silly as they are. We should offend them, if for no other reason than to prove that freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of expression are truly free.   

We should never give in to threats.  Each and every time we do we chip away at our precious freedoms.   

We are Americans.  We shall not fear.   

We shall not be afraid.   

Of anyone.

Peter Bella is a retired Chicago Police Officer, freelance writer, freelance photographer, and consultant.  He is a passionate cook and eater.  He likes to be the sharp stick that pokes, annoys, and provokes.  His opinions are his and his alone.  

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Email- pvbella@gmail.com 

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