There’s a certain type of individual whom I refer to as a FAB–a First Amendment But-head (FABhead). This person can always be spotted by speaking a variation on the following sentence: “I completely support the First Amendment but…” There’s always a but, at which point all the words that come after the but undercut everything that comes before. Because, putting aside such limits as slander and libel and, God, please, the falsely shouting fire in a crowded theater example that’s invariably misquoted, there should be no “but.” You either support it or you don’t.
The reason I bring this up is because I want to give you guys a little taste of what I have to deal with, simply because some people disagree with me. This is, unfortunately, only the latest example, of someone endeavoring to cost me work or shut me up. Come inside and see…
The following letter was sent to Joe Quesada and is reprinted here with his permission. I am not listing the writer’s name since I wasn’t the original recipient, and besides, he didn’t actually give his full name, which tells you something right there. He wrote:
“I am sending this to you because of your position as Editor In Chief of Marvel Comics. Let me start by saying I agree with and understand the first amendment. That being said, I will never again buy a book written by Peter David. I still think he id (sic) one of the best writers out there, in any genre. But having been to his personal website several times, I have come to realize that he is nothing more than a propagandist and conspiracy theorist. As I have said, I agree with the first amendment, but that does mean (sic: Presumably he meant “doesn’t mean”) I have to be a part of supporting anyone that sides with the enemies of our country. Just thought I should let someone know why I will no longer buy his
books. Thank you for your time. I am sending this to this address because I could not find an address for Nachie Castro.”
(The last sentence apparently means he wanted to send it to my editor on “Fallen Angel” as well, but “could not find an address.” Apparently the street address printed on every DC comic was too elusive for him to track down.)
Understand the mentality at work. Understand the stunning hypocrisy. He says he believes in the First Amendment. The right to express oneself. But at the same time, he bìŧçhëš–not to me, not to others on the board–but to the people who hire me. Why? Only one possible reason: To try and make me look bad. To tell them, “This guy is costing you sales. He’s turning away readers with his opinions. This is a problem you should be aware of.” That’s the obvious subtext. No one in their right mind bìŧçhëš to a company head just to let off steam. They want someone to do something about it.
Basically, he’s trying to punish me for using my First Amendment rights. Now…do you punish someone because you believe they’re doing right? Or doing wrong? Obviously the latter. So he believes that my expressing opinions that he finds upsetting is wrong. Which means he doesn’t really support the First Amendment but only says he does. QED.
“Enemies of our country?” There’s all kinds of enemies of our country. If 250 years ago people had supported “my government right or wrong” and intrusion into rights of privacy and punitive measures taken against those who speak out when they feel injustice is being done, this country would never have been founded in the first place. This country was founded, not by those who believe in lockstep obedience, but those with big mouths who sign their full names to protesting documents and were liberal minded enough to say, “This is wrong, something should be done, let’s do it.”
You want enemies of our country? Sometimes you need look no further than those who want to do everything they can to hurt someone or disenfranchise them or screw them just because they disagree with their opinions. People who have no true respect for the First Amendment, people who think they should be allowed to talk and no one else, people who–as Aaron Sorkin put it–claim to love America but hate Americans, these, my friends, are true enemies of our country. I complain about America because I care about America, while FABheads complain about me because they care about themselves.
Would you like to know why I’m different from this…person?
My politics could not be further away from Charlton Heston’s. But I saw the “Planet of the Apes” remake for exactly one reason: To see his cameo. If he made more films, I’d go see them.
If Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Bush-supporting Republican who calls Democrats girly men, gets back into acting and makes T4, I’m there with money in hand.
If John Byrne, who has said more lies and vicious things about me than just about anyone in the industry, ever comes out with a new series of “NeXt Men,” I’d buy it in a heartbeat.
Because I can separate the work from the person. Because if their work entertains me, that is absolutely all that matters.
Because I support the First Amendment.
No ifs, ands…or buts.
PAD
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This is my first time posting on this site. My wife directed me towards this discussion, and even though I haven
While I still don’t agree with the actions the letter writer took, I have to give him credit for stepping forward in this forum, identifying himself and stating why he took the action he did.
As to the letter itself, whether signed with a name or anonymous, I still maintain it was inappropriate to write to Joe Quesada to say he wouldn’t be reading PAD’s books any more because of his political beliefs. The more appropriate thing to do would have been to write the letter to PAD himself. Writing to PAD’s employer creates the impression– whether intentional or not– that he had hoped to get PAD into trouble of some sort over something that had nothing to do with his job responsibilities at Marvel.
On another note, Charlton Heston. It’s interesting that PAD should use him as an example. While I’ve never met the man (Heston, that is), and I don’t agree with all of his politics, I’ve always gotten the impression that if we did meet and got into a conversation about the pros and cons of gun control, that we would have a civil discourse about the issue.
I don’t get that impression from a lot of other people on the far right, which is a shame.
Rick
On another note, Charlton Heston. It’s interesting that PAD should use him as an example. While I’ve never met the man (Heston, that is), and I don’t agree with all of his politics, I’ve always gotten the impression that if we did meet and got into a conversation about the pros and cons of gun control, that we would have a civil discourse about the issue.
I don’t get that impression from a lot of other people on the far right, which is a shame.
One could say the same about the far left as well. Extremists, by definition, are extreme. It’s not at all uncommon for extremists to let their convictions get the best of their dignity, which is indeed a shame. We all remember college, right? Extremists are college activists who never grew up.
I don’t know much about Charlton Heston’s politics apart from his position on firearms laws. That suggests conservatism, but doesn’t prove it, and doesn’t necessarily make him “far right.”
I must admit, Czerillo, that I am impressed that you outed yourself as the letter writer. Anything less would have been chickenshit and crass. Now, it’s just crass.
If you had posted this letter publicly with your name on it, then I porbably wouldn’t complain. Al Franken, Michael Moore, Molly Ivins, and Paul Krugman all take regular potshots at conservatives. Ann Coulter does the same thing to liberals (and moderates, in my opinion). But at least their victims knew who was taking them to task. That’s the difference between the old groups “Friends of Ellison” (public group, fairly self-explanatory in intent) and “Enemies of Ellison” (a private group working to make Ellison’s life miserable).
Al Franken, Michael Moore, Molly Ivins, and Paul Krugman all take regular potshots at conservatives. Ann Coulter does the same thing to liberals (and moderates, in my opinion). But at least their victims knew who was taking them to task.
Probably not the best examples, since all the people you name are actually PAID to write the columns they do.
Also, the truth is that people like you are the very reason there IS a first amendment. True the FA really only applies to government censorship, but people like you probably would be the ones to turn them in.
PAD wouldn’t know me if he tripped over me and I disagree with him almost out of habit now, but i probably wouldn’t post here if I had to reveal my full name (although I think he knows it). Has nothing to do with PAD, really, but with people who may one day decide not to buy my books, short stories, or scripts because of something I may have written on this board. After all, conservatives aren’t look upon very favorably in the artistic world.
Never did I write that you did not have the right to freely express yourself. Nor would I have done such a thing. I am simply expressing my counter-opinion (which, according to the First Amendment, I have the right to express myself as well). There’s a difference between stifling one’s speech and simply having disdain for your approach. You have every right to be a schmuck (honestly, I think everyone has at least a little schmuck in them, and some more than others). If you can’t take a criticism, then don’t.
I simply cannot believe there are posters here who think it is alright to try to jeopardize someone’s livelihood over differing views.
I generally have no use at all for Liberals, but that has nothing to do with their job performance, whatever that job might be.
PAD; ignore these mini-intellects. Tell them their ridiculous little opinions have been noted, and don’t let their posts anger you too much. I’m confident that Joe Quesada and others at Marvel are too intelligent to put much stock into a letter like the one being discussed here.