Subject: Picture in poor "Taste": Larry, I was very disgusted to see you publish the obviously doctored photo of the newest restaurant in town. I’m personally offended, and I think everyone in this township should be as well, that someone who is willing to invest their time and money to try and launch a new business that will add value to the business base of the township, employ township residents, generate tax revenue to several government entities, and possibly draw additional customers to other businesses in our township has to endure the bigotry displayed in that picture! How will this township ever hope to encourage commercial growth in the designated commercial zones and thereby contribute to increasing the commercial ratable base and reduce the property tax burden for the homeowners if the entrepreneurs have to worry about what color, sex, ethnicity, religious beliefs, etc. are “acceptable” in this township! Ron Lischak

RESPONSE: You will be pleased to know that you were not the only one who verbally expressed their displeasure with the picture and its message of bigotry. Thank you having the courage to express your strong condemnation on GadFly. The proud position of GadFly is that it is a totally uncensored forum and open to all views, including those of bigots...though I think it may be presumptious and overly PC perhaps to draw that conclusion. That by the way is the essence of America, that individuals do NOT have a right to NOT be offended...that we err on the side of giving people too much freedom rather than restricting freedom...as they do in Muslim countries or other countries where religion and government mix. But then your friends and fellow Republicans members of THE CORRUPT MULLICA 5 AKA IDIOTS R US have a long record of myriad attempts to keep the Mullica public from expressing their views at pubic meetings...both by scheduling them in the past in the afternoon when most working people can not attend, or as last month, attempting to shout down speakers during pubic discussion.

When you raised your concern over the picture with me at the last Town meeting I referenced the famous Pastor Martin Niemoeller quote...which I am pleased to post here:

They first came for the Communist and I didn’t speak up – because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews and I didn’t speak up – because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn’t speak up – because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics and I didn’t speak up – because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me – and by that time, no one was left to speak up.

One of the core values that sets America apart is that minorities, whether of color, religion, political belief or sexuality are protected from the tyranny of the majority. Well, that used to be the way it was before BUSH THE LESSER was elected.

Once again I applaud your condemnation of perceived bigotry, but note that a prominent member of your Mullica Republican Club expressed her approval of the offensive picture.