I would like to respond to the article “Boycott threat surfaces over anti-Kerry program,” (Oct. 14).

The article discusses a threatened boycott of WGME advertisers to protest Sinclair Broadcasting’s intention to broadcast “Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal” commercial free. I feel this article missed the point.

Many news sources are equating Sinclair’s broadcast of “Stolen Honor” to Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11”. However, “Fahrenheit 9/11” played in private theaters to paying customers. Sinclair proposes to use the public airways to deliver a partisan message. It would be different if Sinclair were a cable TV network, but it is not.

Executives of the Sinclair Broadcast Group may privately favor whichever candidate they like. However, I feel that they should not use the public airwaves to take a corporate stand on political matters. I was already disappointed when Sinclair censored Nightline.

Sinclair is breaking its trust with America. If Sinclair broadcasts such a partisan program, commercial free, without providing an equal, free counterpoint, I will withdraw my support of WGME. I will stop watching programs on WGME and patronizing advertisers on that station.

This is not a threat aimed at the local advertisers themselves. Obviously, if I am not watching WGME, I will not see their advertisements.

Joseph Shovlin, Greene

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