This is in response to the letter from Tom Slivinski, printed Dec. 19.

When someone complains about the Sun Journal, he is at the embarrassing disadvantage of it having been named newspaper of the year. Now that’s a hard row to hoe.

I’ve got nothing against complaining, but why should we knock ourselves where we excel?

In the competition of this global economy, you see promotional folks putting lipstick on pigs all the time. To speak well of Maine workers and the jobs they do, just speak the truth.

I guess New Zealanders are supposed to be the most literate people on the planet, but Mainers can’t be far behind them. The state has always had world famous artists, writers and poets. I rather like “Loyalty” by Henry Braun. If the man stubbed his toe, you’d want to quick take down whatever passed his lips.

For whatever reason, Maine has always had writers’ writers … and taken them for granted.

If Slivinski’s complaint is that people should be allowed to blog any inane comments that pop into their heads, yes, there is the First Amendment, but people should show some consideration of the literary Paul Bunyans in this state. Pithy contributions to public discourse such as “Your mother wears combat boots,” or “I know you are, but what am I,” damage Maine’s image and keep those Kiwis breathing easy.

Tom Bulger, Avon