Dear Folks,

I completely agree that people should have the right to be offended by my signature. I completely disagree that I should have to change or remove my signature just because someone is offended.

I probably have this point of view because I live in the United States and we have something called the bill of rights. One of these rights is freedom of speech. In our country people say things that offend others all day long, every day. And there are people who are offended by these sayings but fight wars to defend the the right to say these things.

There are people in this country that believe that it should be illegal to express certain ideas. Fortunately, they currently have only a small impact on the right to free speech.

Remember that George Orwell wrote 1984 because he was afraid that one day a time would come when it would be illegal in Europe to even think certain thoughts, much less express them in verbal or written form. Be aware that your attitudes are helping to usher in such an age.

Some people have written that they were offended by my signature because someone else claiming to be a Christian did something to harm them. I was once sexually harassed by a 60-year-old Californian Christian who was a manager at a company where I worked. However, I am not offended when a 60-year-old, or a Californian, or a manager, or a Christian says something to me. Guilt by association is bad logic.

I thank God that I live in a country where freedom of speech is vigorously defended. I pray that one day the citizens of your country will shrug off the shackles of oppression and obtain the freedom that I prize so highly.

May the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob bless you all,
David Cullen