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Hometown censorship

To the Editors:

Whatever happened to free speech in this land of the free? The widespread controversy surrounding the film Fahrenheit 9/11 has now reached epidemic proportions, even in the city of Hendersonville according to the Times-News in their front page article on June 24. Our local Skyland Arts Cinema is taking a public opinion poll from area residents to find out whether this Michael Moore documentary should be screened here.
The majority of citizens residing in Henderson County obviously feel that due to the content and subject matter of the movie, it should be boycotted if shown here, but they really prefer a total ban by theaters throughout Western North Carolina. Only Asheville’s Fine Arts Theater is showing the film at the present time.
Doesn’t this all sound like the Nazi regime of the past with their book burning under an autocratic, totalitarian dictatorship? The minority of clear thinking, open minded citizens who cherish our constitutional rights of free speech are at odds with the McCarthy-era ultra-right-wing conservatives who want to muzzle dissent. Is this what the Democratic system of government is all about? Simply stated, this is authoritarianism at its worst.

Sincerely,

Fred R. Chaffee
Hendersonville, NC