Letters

Re “Free Speech Loses in ‘South Park,’ ” by Mary McNamara, April 24: In the United States, the 1st Amendment restricts the government’s right to interfere with free speech, not a corporation’s rights to censor its own employees. The Comedy Central folks did the math and didn’t want to risk losing their employees, which is a rare act of corporate responsibility, not a support of Islam or terrorism.

The issue of this being a violation of the 1st Amendment is thus largely moot.

J. Richard Singleton

Los Angeles

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What’s the loss in doing without Muslim mocking? Don’t misunderstand; I’m as fervently against extremism as the next guy and think the world would be a safer and a better place without it. Certainly, there is a place for irreverence and questioning the status quo, but there is something about making a living off of insults, of exploiting the ignorance of youth and its rebellious tendency, of propagating disrespect and systematically fostering the decline of human dignity; of discrediting the value of education; of trivializing lies and ridiculing kindness and consideration that trouble me more than our exploited, distorted and sanctified vision of free speech.

Michael E. White

Burbank

Pullman’s novel sends up itself

Re “Author’s Sin: Giving Jesus an Evil Twin,” by Tim Rutten, April 28: I believe Philip Pullman’s latest novel, “The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ,” is nothing more than an unintentional satire of atheism.

His premise that Mary gave birth to Jesus and his “evil twin” Christ is not only absurd but utterly unoriginal. Such a tired pulp fiction device renders Pullman’s fable not only unpersuasive but woefully comical.

If this is an example of the towering intellect of a renowned atheist, then Christianity will easily endure another 2,000 years.

Gary P. Taylor

Santa Ysabel

Sites that need Broad’s museum

I’m asking Eli Broad for a break. Stop pouring money on top of money in areas that are already gentrified, sanitized, popularized and monetized. After all, downtown L.A. and its new Ritz-Carlton or Santa Monica with its stratospheric real estate prices don’t need any more investment; give us a break!

If it is true philanthropy you’re after and not solely a legacy to bestow upon the wealthy, build your museum in an area of Los Angeles that is virtually invisible to the well-heeled. Build your museum in South Central. Add it to the Watts Towers park, for example, or build it on any of the dozens of empty lots or parcels heavy with decay and neglect.

In short, Mr. Broad, embrace this rare opportunity to erect your museum as symbol of hope and a bastion of culture not where it is needed least, but where it is needed most.

Frederic E. Bloomquist

San Pedro

Moonves has a fine plan

Patrick Goldstein has it right — to a degree — about Les Moonves’ business plan for CBS Films [“CBS Films Needs a Backup Plan,” April 27]: namely that you need to clearly define your goals and objectives in order for your moviemaking business to have a chance of success. However, I believe that Moonves’ basic premise is right on target.

He’s trying to duplicate what many other successful “independent” production companies have done throughout Hollywood history — namely, produce films the majors are not eager to add to their slates but which are still needed to fill empty theatrical play dates. His biggest mistake may well come if he lets his ego get in the way and begins spending more to compete with “the big guys”!

I agree with Moonves that these productions need to be modestly budgeted, have recognizable marquee names and appeal to targeted audiences. Oh, yes, they need to be well-executed as well! The reason that these kinds of movies don’t appeal to major studio executives is that their upside is most often limited, but then, the downside risk is almost nonexistent. With the many distribution platforms available in today’s market, the long-term prospects for these lower budgeted films is downright rosy.

Goldstein suggests that CBS Films needs an “injection of irreverent, unruly, manic energy … it’s going to have to find a way to play to win.” That’s good advice for any movie company. As a matter of fact, I haven’t come across a company that doesn’t have that as its mantra.

Henri Bollinger

Los Angeles