During a press conference Friday, President Obama criticized Sony Pictures’ decision to cancel the released of the movie “The Interview.” (Photo by Alex Wong, Getty Images)
Re: “Kim Jong Un, chief U.S. censor,” Dec. 19 editorial.
Regarding your editorial about Sony’s abrupt cancellation of the release of “The Interview,” I believe the implication of this cowardly act is far more serious. First and foremost, it exposes the hypocrisy of Hollywood. Hollywood, which has long benefited from the free-market economy, always likes to take the moral high ground when it criticizes America’s past acts as being imperialistic, resulting in domestic and international repression. Yet, when it faces a real threat from a true dictator, it raises the white flag faster than one can imagine.
But on a deeper level, Hollywood’s retreat in this case truly signifies the retreat of America. Freedom of speech is a cherished American value and it is a natural right of being human. When we allow some threat or fear of violence to become an excuse to restrict it, we as a country are in fact giving up an important principle that this country was founded upon.
Helen Raleigh, Centennial
This letter was published in the Dec. 20 edition.Re: “Sony cancels movie release of ‘The Interview,’ ” Dec. 18 news story.
I can understand Sony’s concerns relating to the theater-going public because of terrorist threats conveyed by the recent hacking incident. However, what I’d like to see is that instead of bowing to the threats, Sony would acknowledge that in America, we do not take lightly an attempt to squelch freedom of speech. Instead, Sony could elect to release “The Interview” directly to DVD. I suspect that what they might lose in ticket sales would be overwhelmed by the number of people who would purchase the movie — many more than would watch it ordinarily — simply because of the current publicity and in response to the restraint of free exchange of ideas.
Kevin Dawson, Littleton
This letter was published in the Dec. 20 edition.Cyberattacks on the United States or U.S. interests will continue until our government lets foreign governments know they will not be tolerated. Sony Entertainment this time — but the electric power grid, air traffic control, or the banking system next time? Foreign governments need to know that we will consider cyberattacks the same as military attacks and react accordingly. These rogue regimes must know they will pay dearly for cyberattacks.
Richard Pearson, Parker
This letter was published in the Dec. 20 edition.
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